Conducting research
Research Services handles all research-related activities within the Department of Education.
Anyone seeking to conduct research in Queensland state schools and other state education sites must first complete an application and gain approval.
State education sites include:
- state schools
- environmental education centres
- state early childhood education services
- central and regional offices.
Research guidelines
Read the guidelines for conducting research on departmental sites (PDF, 222KB) before preparing a research application.
The guidelines give detailed information about the application process, including:
- who to apply to, depending on the nature and location of the research
- ethical considerations
- what information to include with an application
- factors we consider when appraising the research
- the approval process.
Why does research need approval?
The research approval process ensures:
- school students are protected from harm
- privacy and confidentiality
- the research activity does not impact on students' learning
- the schools involved and the department benefit from the research
- valid and reliable results are obtained and made available for departmental use.
How to apply
There are 3 types of research applications.
Research advertisement in schools
If you just want to advertise your research on a school noticeboard or in a newsletter to recruit voluntary participants for research that is not being done in a state school, please complete the research advertisement in schools form (PDF, 5.4MB) and submit it directly to the school principal/s.
The school principal will review your request, and must be satisfied that the project meets ethical standards.
If you want further assistance from the school, would like help in recruiting participants, sending out information sheets or collecting consent forms, or accessing student data, you'll need to submit a full research application as outlined in the following section.
Application for conducting research in Queensland state education sites
Applications are processed through the online research application portal, Queensland Education Research Inventory (QERI).
Read more about how to apply.
Application for conducting research in schools in more than one jurisdiction (sector, state or territory) in Australia
All jurisdictions across Australia welcome research in schools that is of high quality and consistent with the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research.
Each jurisdiction assesses research applications according to broadly similar criteria, balancing likely benefits and feasibility against likely costs and ethical requirements.
If you want to conduct research in more than jurisdiction, complete a single national application form and apply separately to each jurisdiction.
The websites, email addresses and contact details for each jurisdiction are in the national application form guidelines as well as the working with children checks and insurance coverage requirements in each state and territory.
What happens next?
The appraisal process takes an average of 12 weeks.
You may be asked to provide more information to support the decision-making process during the review period.
Application approval is conditional on researchers abiding by the department's terms and conditions (PDF, 148KB).
Helpful information
- Frequently asked questions
- Guidelines for conducting research (PDF, 222KB)
- Terms and conditions for conducting research (PDF, 148KB)
Contact us
Contact research services or your local regional office for more information.