Which term refers to when a minor provides consent to participate in a study with the approval of a parent or guardian?

The term that refers to when a minor provides consent to participate in a study, with the approval of a parent or guardian, is informed assent. Informed assent is the process through which minors, who may not have the legal capacity to give full informed consent, express their willingness to participate in research or other activities after being provided with appropriate information about the study. This process is essential as it respects the autonomy of the minor while also acknowledging that a parent or guardian must approve their participation.

Informed consent typically applies to adults who can understand the study's implications and make decisions without parental involvement. An assent agreement is often used interchangeably with informed assent, but it is less common in formal terminology. Parental consent refers specifically to the approval given by a parent or guardian for a minor to participate, which works in conjunction with informed assent but does not encompass the minor's active agreement to participate. Together, informed assent and parental consent create an ethical framework for involving minors in research.