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External Research Projects

General Information

Research Guidelines

 

 

 

 

 

 Individuals and/or external groups/organizations wishing to conduct research projects, surveys, and questionnaires involving students, staff or parents require approval from the Division.

Policy LEC - Research Projects, Surveys and Questionnaires 

Research Application
 (Terms of reference, Guidelines, Application)

RESEARCH ADVISORY COMMITTEE

TERMS OF REFERENCE

  1. To act as an Advisory Committee to the Chief Superintendent with regard to the approval of all external research project requests involving research with children.
  2. Screen all requests described in No. 1 on the basis of ethics, research methodology, disruptions to the schools and benefit to the Division, education and/or society.
  3. Recommend approval to the Chief Superintendent through the Chairperson of the Research Advisory Committee.

 

GUIDELINES FOR EXTERNAL RESEARCH PROJECTS

These guidelines apply to any study requesting the participation of Winnipeg School Division No. 1 students.

  1. All projects emanating from agencies external to the Division, including Division teachers and the Department of Education must be approved by the Division.
  2. The Research Advisory Committee will screen all applications on the basis of ethics, research methodology, disruptions to the school, benefits to the Division, education and/or society. The Committee will then recommend certain projects for approval to the Chief Superintendent.
  3. The Committee is made up of staff of the Division and representatives from the Universities of Manitoba and Winnipeg.
  4. The Committee will meet as required; or on short notice if sufficient applications are received. The Committee will only consider a proposal at other times during the school year under VERY exceptional circumstances. In addition, proposals should be submitted sufficiently in advance to allow committee members time to study the proposal.
  5. In general, researchers will not be allowed access to students in May, June and September because of the large number of activities in schools at this time of year. An exception will be allowed for proposals which:

a) demonstrate the necessity of access to schools in May, June and September;

b) allow for sufficient time for the schools to accommodate the research request.

  1. All research proposals should include:

a) Completed Winnipeg School Division No. 1 Research Application form, which, in the case of a student, must be countersigned by the student's thesis advisor;

b) A copy of approval letter from the appropriate faculty and/or ethical review committees;

c) All stimulus materials to which students or staff may be exposed;

d) All information and/or parental permission letters to be distributed to students, parents or staff.

  1. In the case of certain tests, applicants will have to demonstrate that the test will be administered by qualified personnel.
  2. a) Parental permission is required for students to participate in studies which seek information beyond the normal school curriculum.

b) All students/participants must be informed that they may withdraw from the researcher's study at any time.

  1. If necessary, the Research Advisory Committee may require a researcher to provide additional information particularly for studies or parts of studies which seek information concerning confidential aspects of students' or their parents' lives.
  2. The Research Advisory Committee recommends approval of the project to the Chief Superintendent.
  3. The Chief Superintendent or designate informs the applicant of the Division's decision.
  4. Researchers of approved projects are required to follow the directions of the Chairperson, Research Advisory Committee regarding all procedures related to the collection of data.
  5. Approval by the Division does not obligate any school, its staff or students to participate in a study.

  6. a) The Researcher is required to submit a final report of the research to the Division. All such reports shall respect the anonymity of all participants.

    7.

b) The researcher is not required to give a report to students, their parents/guardians or teachers; if he/she does so, however, any such report should contain aggregate data only. In no circumstances shall a researcher reveal individual scores to students or parents without Division approval.

FOOTNOTE:

In certain cases, mainly restricted to Universities and Colleges, students are required to carry out a small study in order to gain research experience as part of a course. Where appropriate, e.g., where the number of students is not large, the time required is very little, and the stimulus materials are innocuous, formal approval by the Research Advisory Committee may be waived at the discretion of the Superintendent's Department and with the permission of the principal and teacher(s) involved.

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