Ethical Research Policy

Overview

This policy outlines the requirements for research undertaken by staff of St Michaael’s Grammar School.  

Establishing a culture of research and collaboration is one of the Strategic Goals of the Professional Learning Strategy and is central to the School’s vision under the Strategic Direction: Towards 2030 where: 

• ‘Our students will learn from our people, our programs and the world beyond the School.’ 

• ‘Our students will learn with the community, leading institutions and organisations.’ 

• ‘Our students will learn for their future and the betterment of the world.’  
  

It is intended that research undertaken by staff will contribute to one or more of the following:   

• Informing key strategic decisions that affect the School’s educational offering.  

• Supporting continual improvement of services, policies or programs offered by the School.  

• Transferring knowledge gained from research into improvements in practice by educators and others working with children and young people.   
  

And that it will: 

• Ensure that research is ethical, safe and respects the autonomy and rights of children and young people, employees and volunteers, as well as parents, guardians, employees and the community.  

• Ensure that research initiated, commissioned, partnered or sponsored by the School is of high quality and will provide reliable evidence.  

• Encourage research activity by School staff, either individually or in collaboration with internal or external partners.  

Purpose

To provide governance relating to research undertaken by staff of St Michaael’s Grammar School and to ensure research is conducted with the highest standards of ethics, integrity and responsibility.

Scope

This policy applies to all research undertaken by staff of the School, either individually, or in collaboration with other staff, students, or individuals or organisations external to the School, which is undertaken in the course of the staff members’ employment or engagement, or with the substantial support of the School.

It applies to the authorship of all research output, including non-traditional research outputs such as web-based publications and applications, professional blogs and any form of authored research which is made publicly available.

For the avoidance of doubt, this policy does not apply to research undertaken within the School by independent researchers. This must be conducted in accord with their own institution’s ethical framework and all relevant policies of the School, including the Behaviour Policy, Privacy Policy and all Child Safety Policies.

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