Securing Permission to Conduct Research in Local Schools

In cooperation with Monroe County Community School Corporation (MCCSC) protocol we have developed the following procedure for all requests to conduct research in the MCCSC schools. Please read I-IV entirely to understand the whole process.

To conduct research in MCCSC schools you must first complete the following:

MATERIALS WHICH MUST BE COMPLETED

I. HUMAN SUBJECTS FORMS: Obtain these forms: http://researchadmin.iu.edu/HumanSubjects/IUB/hs_home.html (click the button for Bloomington and use the appropriate information for the process)and submit as instructed by your School or Department Chair or Dean.

Once these documents have been approved, submit approval to the Office of Early Field Experiences, Educ.1020N one photocopy of the Documentation of Review and Approval of Research Utilizing Human Subjects (after it has been fully signed in the “Campus Level Review” section at the bottom of page). This must be filed in Educ.1020N before a research request can be submitted to the MCCSC administration.

After Human Subjects forms are complete you must submit:

II. REQUEST FOR PERMISSION TO DO RESEARCH IN MCCSC SCHOOLS: Obtain this form online at (you need to save a copy to your desktop--it does not save/submit online): http://www.indiana.edu/~fieldexp/requestForPermission.html.

*Be sure to sign all forms--only text showing in the boxes will print. (Students must also have the signature of their Faculty Advisor or Instructor at IU.)

III. RESEARCH SYNOPSIS: http://www.indiana.edu/~fieldexp/synopsis2-new.html.

* Review Item VIII: Regulations Concerning Research Studies (found on Research Synopsis form) before submitting all paperwork.

Be sure to include (where applicable):

IV. ATTACHMENTS TO BE SUPPLIED BY RESEARCHERS

1. Parent Information Letter: Item IV on Research Synopsis.
2. Parent Consent Form: Item IV on Research Synopsis. School corporation policies require permission letters in virtually all research situations involving children.
3. Test instruments or other research materials: Any instruments or research materials the Human Subjects Review committee required on your application (Part I).

FOR PARTS II – IV: Submit packets containing copies of these forms (may be photocopied) to the Office of Early Field Experiences, Educ.1020N as follows:

• A packet for each school in which you hope to have a research population.
• A packet for MCCSC Administration.
• A packet for IU files.

APPROVAL PROCESS

1. Submission of all materials listed above to the Office of Early Field Experiences, Educ.1020N.
2. Completed materials will be reviewed and forwarded to the appropriate MCCSC administrator.
3. If approved, materials will be submitted to school principals. For elementary schools this will only occur, with rare exception, at regular monthly administrative meetings.
4. When returned to the Office of Early Field Experiences by principals, researcher will receive a copy of the Request For Permission To Do Research In MCCSC Schools form indicating acceptance or rejection.
5. Inquiries about the progress of the request should be made to Julie Lyon in the Office of Early Field Experiences, Educ.1020N (812-856-8745 or jualyon@indiana.edu ).
6. Once accepted, the researcher may make whatever scheduling arrangements are necessary with school principal(s).
7. When research is complete, researcher is to submit a summary to the Office of Early Field Experiences, Educ.1020N in compliance with permission agreement. (*See Item IV on Research Synopsis.)

SUGGESTIONS TO RESEARCHERS

The following suggestions are offered to help researchers present their request to the MCCSC in a manner most likely to be acceptable so that requests can be routed to schools and teachers with as little delay as possible.

1. Read the instructions on the various forms carefully. Avoid delays that will be caused if forms must be rewritten. Be sure to deliver various forms to their proper places (see instructions) and have them correctly signed.
2. Attach copies of all relevant materials to the Request For Permission form, including: human subjects approval, your research proposal, instruments to be used, and information about availability of films or other materials which cannot be attached.
3. Be sure that you have carefully evaluated the requirements for time and the number of pupils needed. Excessive time and pupil requirements are the most common reasons for requests being rejected by school officials.
4. Regarding the Parent Information Letter and the Parent Consent Form: if you are not accustomed to writing this type of letter, ask to see some samples in the Office of Early Field Experiences, Educ.1020N.

Approval of research requests may take up to 6 weeks. Therefore, please submit all necessary documentation in a timely manner.

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