Why do students have to be 18 years of age or older to participate?
In the state of Virginia students who are younger than age 18 are considered minors. There are a set of rules in the research regulations that protect minors. One of these protections is that minors cannot give permission to be in research without their parent’s authorization (consent). Since it may be difficult for some students to get their parents’ permission and most of the freshmen are not minors (96% are 18 years or older), the project is only enrolling students who are 18 or older. An invitation to participate will be sent out to students to participate once they turn age 18. If a student turns age 18 during an on-going data collection, an invitation will be sent out for that on-going collection. Otherwise, the student will be invited to participate in future waves of data collection that take place after the student’s 18th birthday.
In the state of Virginia students who are younger than age 18 are considered minors. There are a set of rules in the research regulations that protect minors. One of these protections is that minors cannot give permission to be in research without their parent’s authorization (consent). Since it may be difficult for some students to get their parents’ permission and most of the freshmen are not minors (96% are 18 years or older), the project is only enrolling students who are 18 or older. An invitation to participate will be sent out to students to participate once they turn age 18. If a student turns age 18 during an on-going data collection, an invitation will be sent out for that on-going collection. Otherwise, the student will be invited to participate in future waves of data collection that take place after the student’s 18th birthday.
