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Overview
The Guam Department of Education
receives numerous requests from various people to conduct research studies
that involve students and/or staff. The Department believes that research is
essential if we are to continue to develop the kind of educational programs
needed to meet the needs of children in the public schools. However, there
is a place for responsible research as it relates to children in elementary
and secondary public schools. It is the school’s responsibility and mission
to provide on-going curriculum and instruction with minimum
interruption. Therefore, such research must be designed to take into
consideration the requirements of the researcher (you) and the needs of the
school system (us).
In order to keep research focused on the needs of the school system, the
Research Review Panel must review all proposals for approval or disapproval.
The membership of the panel will vary, however, members most likely will
include classroom teachers, principals, district-level personnel, and a
representative of the University of Guam. The Department will invite other
relevant advisory input on a case-by-case basis. While all proposals will be
given fair treatment, the panel will normally discourage incomplete
proposals. Proposals would be written in concise language, and be free of
grammatical and spelling errors.
Timeline and Procedures Involved in Review of
Research Proposals
Please keep in mind that it generally
takes from 1 to 2 weeks for a decision to be made. In order to
facilitate the review process, one complete, formal copy of the proposal, as
well as seven (7) two-page summaries (as outlined in Items 1-8 in the next
section) should be submitted. All requests must be processed by the Research
Review Panel before any action is taken. After the panel has reviewed the
proposal, you will be notified in writing whether or not approval has been
granted. You may then contact the affected principal or division head whose
decision will determine the actual administration and implementation of the
research. Please note that approval granted by the Research Review Panel is
only the proposal to be considered in the school system. It is always
the individual division head's, principal's or teacher’s decision to
participate or to decline participation in any research study.
Format for
Submitting a Research Proposal
Please adhere to the following format when submitting your proposal. Failure
to do so shall result in immediate rejection of the proposal and could
affect any future efforts to conduct research or studies. The two-page
summary should follow this format:
1. Name, address, telephone number and affiliation of person
submitting the proposal.
2. Title of proposed research.
3. Statement of purpose (the questions you are proposing to answer
with the study).
4. Design and implementation:
a. Statement of problem.
b. What hypotheses are to be tested?
c. What are the dependent variables? Independent variables?
d. How are the variables to be measured?
e. What is the sampling plan?
f. What is the research design?
g. Describe the data collection procedure.
h. How will results be gathered and analyzed?
i. What other related research has done in this field?
5. If any non-standardized instrument is to be used, please attach a
sample of it with the request. If the instrument or instruments are
standardized, please describe them.
6. If direct involvement of pupils will be required, please list any
restrictions or qualifications relative to type of pupils needed.
7. If direct involvement of staff of the Guam Department of Education
is required, define staff, amount of time they are to be involved, extent of
involvement, and any other information helpful to understanding the
approach.
8. A statement detailing how the results of the study could be
valuable to the Guam Department of Education.
If you are a student, be sure to check your college or university for
proposal format requirements. Some follow the style of the American
Psychological Association as presented in Publication Manual of the APA, 2nd
Edition, 1974. If you have no institutional affiliation, it is recommended
that APA style be followed.
Other Requirements for Submission of Completed
Research Proposal
It must be understood that no names
of individuals or schools will be used for this study unless permission is
granted in writing. The Department of Education will assume no
responsibility for the release of any research report.
It is also understood that the director of any approved project will, upon
termination of the project, send three final bound copies of
the completed research report, including a summary of no more than three
pages, to the Administrator, Research, Planning and Evaluation. When
possible direct presentation of results to Department of Education officials
is encouraged. The Department of Education and Government of Guam assumes no
liability for actions of the researcher. All completed research reports must
include a credit citation that properly cites the Department of Education.
At the present time, the Guam Department of Education leans favorably toward
process evaluation types of studies. This is not to say that other types of
studies are discouraged. However, the school system has the greatest need
for studies which will be of immediate benefit in aiding the decision-making
process.
Additional Information for Research Requester
What Does the Department of
Education Consider as Research?
A research activity is any one of any combination of the following:
1. Interview, surveys by questionnaire, attitude and personality
scales (the requester is expected to be familiar with the Government Code of
Guam Section 11207.2 a.c. Curriculum, Testing, Pupil Records, Rights of
Parents and Guardians).
2. Observations and questionnaires designed to secure data on
class-room processes, on interaction patterns, on teaching/learning
behaviors on methods and materials of instruction in use, or on use of
classroom and building facilities.
3. Development and validation instruments and procedures intended to
describe status or progress and to evaluate outcomes.
4. Testing and assessment in connection with projects and
research-oriented activities.
5. Studies of staff organization, of staff utilization, or of staff
reaction to organizational patterns or to instructional programs and
instructional materials for students, staff, and the adult community not
conducted by administrators of the Department as part of ongoing management
activities.
6. Studies of the effectiveness of different approaches to
instruction, of different instructional materials, or of instructional aids
and devices.
7. Studies involving the gathering of data on the reaction of staff,
pupils, parents, or the general public to features of the educative process
and to issues in education.
8. Studies concerned with human growth and development and with
characteristics of learning and social development.
9. Studies assessing values, aspirations, and life goals.
10. Studies requiring or seeking information about staff, pupils or
parents.
What Studies are Eligible for Screening and Evaluation by the Research
Review Panel?
Studies of the following types are eligible for review and evaluation
process:
1. Responses to Department of Education requests for proposals
(RFP’s) for external audits, evaluations and research.
2. Unsolicited research from organizations or individuals independent
of the Department of Education.
3. Proposals for studies for master’s theses and doctoral
dissertations originating from DOE employees.
4. Proposals for students for master’s theses and doctoral
dissertations originating from proponents other than DOE employees.
Studies Which Will Generally Not Be Approved or Supported
1. Studies designed to meet requirements for receiving credit in
under- graduate or graduate courses, seminars, practicums or training
workshop.
2. Studies whose research designs do not fully meet accepted
technical] standards and format as outlined in the Director of Education’s
cover letter to Research Requesters (Item 1-8).
3. Studies that, in the opinion of the Department could be divisive,
disruptive or otherwise counter productive to the school’s mission.
4. Studies which require financial commitment from the Department of
Education or school. It is the responsibility of the research proposer to
bear all costs associated with the research.
5. Studies which do not enable the Department to review and/or rebut
conclusions or interpretations.
6. Studies that seek to develop products without assigning joint
proprietary rights to the Department of Education and the research. All
completed studies must carry a disclaimer to the effect that the research
reported does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Department of
Education nor the Government of Guam and that no endorsement of products
developed as part of the research is implied.
Where to Submit Research Proposal/Disclaimer
Send Research Requests to:
Dr. Nerissa Bretania-Shafer
Administrator
Research, Planning and Evaluation Division
Guam Department of Education
P. O. Box DE
Hagatna, Guam 96910
Telephone: (671) 475-0512
FAX: (671) 477-3407
The Department of Education reserves
the right to terminate all research without notice. Individual employees of
the Department of Education and members of the Research Review Panel assume
no personal liability for the researcher or for actions stemming from the
researcher’s actions. |
