Research

Educational research is one of the three core elements of a Wesley College education – the other two elements being the curriculum and teaching practice.

• Research is the means by which we both evaluate how we teach and learn from the experiences of others in the educational community. Research provides insight and understanding in relation to the learner, the curriculum program, and the art of teaching. For example, we are continuing to learn about how learning occurs through increased understanding of how the brain functions and how it changes as we develop. We are also learning about emotional intelligence and learning styles – both of which help inform us of the ways to structure of curriculum and teaching to meet the needs of each individual student.

• As we grow in our understanding of learners and learning, we are then able to adjust our educational program (the curriculum) so that it better meets the needs of students. We are therefore continually reviewing what we know about our students and the best way to organise their learning.

• It is also imperative that we help our teachers grow in their knowledge about good teaching practice. For example, we know that Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) can enhance the learning of students, then our staff need to be able to organise their classrooms and the learning program in such a way that it will maximise the benefits for all students.

So research, curriculum development and staff professional development are all part of a cyclical process of refining our knowledge and practice in education. It is the integration of these three elements that makes Wesley such a leader in the global education community.

Guidelines for External Applications

Wesley College encourages appropriately qualified researchers from outside the College to submit proposals for research projects that concern issues relating to all fields of education.  Research projects may be supported through access to staff, students, facilities, equipment and/or other information.  Students or other persons in relevant fields who lack research experience may also present research proposals if it is planned that their work on the project will be under the supervision of an appropriately qualified person or persons.

Applications for Wesley College support for research projects will be examined and evaluated on their educational merits.  Issues relating to confidentiality, ethics, costs, and any additional workload, which may be imposed by the project on our staff and students, will also be taken into consideration when assessing project proposals.

Approval and Monitoring Process

The following outlines Wesley College's policies in relation to offering approval for research projects for researchers wishing to make an application to the Director of Curriculum.

Research Approval Priorities

A research study proposal will be accepted if it meets the following criteria:

• The study has the capacity to encourage staff to improve the quality of education at Wesley College
  
  
• The study has the capacity to improve the quality of education for students nationally and/or internationally
  
  
• The study has the capacity to further understanding of areas identified as College priorities
  
  
• The study provides a balance of student sampling in relation to other studies being conducted to ensure that students and teachers are not overwhelmed by requests for data.
  
  
• The study will not compromise the delivery of the endorsed curriculum or current programs at Wesley College
  
  
• The research will be conducted through a method that complies with all College Policies, and particularly the Professional Code of Ethics and Duty of Care, the Intellectual Property Policy, the Privacy Policy, the Health and Safety Policy and the Workplace Behaviour Policy, with the condition that the consultant(s)/ researcher(s) enter(s) into an acceptable contractual arrangement with the Director of Curriculum
  
  
• The study complies with the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Research Involving Humans, and meets College ethical considerations.
  
  
• The study has ethics committee approval from tertiary institution/affiliation (where necessary)
  
  
• The study has external funding clearance from tertiary institution/affiliation ethics committee.
  
  
• The Researcher is prepared to present an interim report to the Director of Curriculum in addition to a draft copy of the final report before publication.
  
  
• The Researcher is prepared to publish an abstract and executive summary on the College intranet of the study and its findings, and liaises with, and/or presents findings to, an identified College audience

Ethical Considerations

Researchers must consider the ethical implications and physical and/or psychological consequences for the participants in the research. The Researcher must consider actively, by proper consultation, whether local cultural variations, special personality factors in the participants, or variations in procedure from studies reported previously, may introduce unexpected problems for the participants. Consideration must be given to the degree of risk (including physical safety) or stress, and the extent of encroachment upon privacy, that the investigation will incur upon participants, and a debriefing should be conducted by the researcher at the conclusion of the project with all participants. The Researcher must take responsibility for dealing with issues that may arise as a result of the project, in consultation with the campus counsellor/s.

Confidentiality of information regarding Wesley College staff and students must be preserved at all times. Researchers must agree to recognise their responsibilities in this area.

Where research requires, or is likely to involve, deception concerning the purpose of the investigation or the participant’s role in it, Wesley College must be satisfied that the aims and objectives of the research cannot be achieved by other means.

Obtaining informed consent from study participants involves informing the subject and his/her parent/guardian (if participant is under the age of 16), usually by way of an information sheet, detailing:

• The Researcher's name, status and employer/affiliation
  
  
• The purpose of the research project and how the information will be used
  
  
• The voluntary nature of participant involvement
  
  
• The ability of participants to exercise their right to withdraw from the study at any time
  
  
• The extent and nature of the involvement of participants
  
  
• The fact that information obtained will be treated as confidential, and that identities will be concealed when results are reported and
  
  
• Project debriefing arrangements.

In instances where follow-up of study participants is part of the research design, the following must be observed:

• The informed consent of the participant to the follow-up must be obtained and
  
  
• The participant must be told precisely how follow-up will proceed

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