School Research Placement

Procedures and Requirements | Criminal Background Check | Deadlines | School Research Ideas Forms | FAQs | Other Resources and Information for Pre-K-12 Administration, Faculty and Parents

Procedures and Requirements

Individuals who are interested in conducting research with preschool, elementary, middle, or high school students, their parents and families, teachers, or other school personnel, should first obtain human subjects approval by completing and submitting the IRB-1 along with the completed copy of the School Research Form. In addition, school district staff regularly provide us with a list of topics where they would find research most helpful. Reviewing this list may be useful for student researchers who would like to identify a focus area.

When completing the School Research Form, please remember that handwritten forms are not acceptable. Forms may be submitted electronically but the final version must be signed by the researchers. A copy of this form is sent to the school district where the researcher proposes to implement the study so it should clearly represent the goals of the project to teachers and school administrators. When submitting the Research in Schools Form, all related and supporting documents, including the approved IRB-1, sample consent letters and copies of any surveys, questionnaires, or interview protocols that will be used in the research, must be submitted at that time as well. Staff at the OSURR office will make every effort to assist the researcher with finding the best school placement that meets the requirements of their particular project.

It is important to keep in mind that school district faculty and administrators are very busy professionals and that university researchers are guests in the school building. Researchers should be prepared to provide a summary of their research to school faculty along with another supportive activity such as a packet of relevant resources, or faculty workshop. Contributions such as this encourage goodwill between the University and school district staff along with ongoing professional development or educational support at the school level.

Anyone desiring to conduct research in K-12 schools must have a Criminal Background Check run before submitting a research proposal. Criminal Background Checks can be facilitated through the Office of School University Research Relations (OSURR). Please contact Anne Robertson or visit OSURR at 38B Education, 217-333-3023.

 

Other resources and Information for Pre-K-12 Administration, Faculty and Parents

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