Conducting research in Victorian government schools
Introduction
The Department acknowledges the importance of research in developing and refining strategies to meet the changing needs of students. It welcomes high quality proposals for school level research designed to add to the understanding of students and the effectiveness of educational programs.
The nature and volume of requests being made for research in schools has significant potential implications for the efficient operation of schools and the well-being of students and staff. It is therefore necessary for the education system to manage and validate research requests to minimise disruption and to protect students and staff.
The Department must approve all proposals to conduct research in schools before researchers approach schools. There are three stages to the approval process:
- Review of proposal: gaining Departmental approval to approach school principals
- Consent of schools: gaining the approval of principals to conduct research in their schools
- Consent of participants: gaining the agreement of students (and where necessary their parents) and/or staff for participation in the research
Details of these stages are outlined in the document Application Procedures for Research in Victorian Government Schools. Under some circumstances exceptions may be made to the approval process. Details of these circumstances are provided in Section 2.4 of the document.
Procedure
Researchers should read the Application Procedures for Research in Victorian Government Schools, before completing the Application to Conduct Research in Schools. The application must include sufficient information to enable a full understanding of the aims, methodology and procedures of the research, together with copies of:
- the approval for the research from the relevant human research ethics committee (HREC), where applicable. If approval is yet to be granted, please include a statement indicating whether the study has been submitted to an HREC and, if so, the status of that submission
- the proposed letter to school principals requesting approval to conduct the research in their schools
- a statement in plain language (no more than two pages) describing the research, which will be provided with the above letter to the school principals
- the proposed letter to the participants inviting their involvement in the research
- the proposed letter to parents, where appropriate, requesting approval for their students to participate in the research
- a statement in plain language (no more than two pages) describing the research, which will be provided to the participants and where appropriate to their parents
- consent forms to be provided to all participants and, if necessary, parents
- all questionnaires, surveys and interview questions (a sample is not adequate)
Note: Where the development of instruments forms an integral part of the research process, approval may be given for the developmental stage only, with full approval being withheld until the final versions of the instruments are submitted for approval.
To ensure all required documentation is provided, researchers should complete the Checklist of Research Attachments and include it with their application.
Submission
Send one hard copy of your application to:
Research Branch
Education Policy and Research Division
Office for Policy, Research and Innovation
Department of Education and Early Childhood Development
GPO Box 4367
Melbourne VIC 3001
Documents and further information
Documents
Application Procedures for Research in Victorian Government Schools (Word - 62Kb)
Application to Conduct Research in Schools (Word - 69Kb)
Further information
External applicants may contact the Research Branch for further information at research@edumail.vic.gov.au