Research and Data Request of External Researchers

POLICY AND PLANS DIVISION

POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING SECTION

EXTERNAL SERVICES

APPROVAL FOR THE CONDUCT OF RESEARCH STUDIES IN DSWD OFFICES, CENTERS, AND INSTITUTIONS
OBTAINING SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT (SWD) DATA & INFORMATION

Checklist of contents for a Research/Data request letter

1. Name, course, year and school of Proponent/s	Indicate the name/s of the Researcher/s/Proponent/s, course, Grade/year and name of school
2. Purpose of the request	State the specific purpose of the request Ex: for academic purposes,etc.
3. Title of the Research Study/Thesis	Indicate the full title of the study
4. Data Gathering method and Target respondents: choose among the following:	-Indicate target number of respondents e.g. How many staff, how many clients -Indicate target DSWD program/service or DSWD Center/Institution Ex. AVRC III, RRCY, Pantawid Program,etc. * If the target respondents of a study require the participation of children and/or women in difficult circumstances, informed consent as well as approval from the legal section is required before the granting of approval to the research request.
▪ Key Informant Interview with DSWD Officials and staff
▪ Interview with DSWD Clients and Beneficiaries
▪ Administration of survey form/questionnaire checklist
▪ Photo/Video/Observation of DSWD centers, institutions, offices	Indicate the target DSWD Center/Institution
▪ Request for data/statistics or reference materials only	-Indicate target sector: PWDs, Senior citizens, Solo Parents, Children, Youth, Women, Others (pls specify) –Specify the data being requested -Specify the period/coverage (year/s)
5. Email address and contact number	Indicate active email add and contact number

Note:

Research/Data request letter must be signed by the proponent/s and their thesis adviser and/or Department head
For walk-in clients, they may directly proceed to Records Section to submit their request letter
They may also send their request letter to fo9@dswd.gov.ph for those requester/s outside Zamboanga city

Approval is issued to external researchers who intend to conduct research studies related to or involving the Department. The processing of requests to conduct research studies in DSWD Offices, Centers, and Institutions particularly applies to researchers who wish to acquire primary data through first-hand investigation, e.g., face-to-face interviews, survey questionnaires, focus group discussions, and case studies, among others, with the DSWD, including its clients/beneficiaries and ongoing programs, projects, and services, wherein their main subject of research study involves the DSWD as an organization. Requests to conduct such activities need to undergo research protocol. Research in which target respondents involve more than one (1) region shall seek the approval of the Director of the Policy Development and Planning Bureau (PDPB). Research requests must be submitted to the PDPB Director at least one (1) month before the projected start of data gathering activity.

On the other hand, research requests for the following need not go through the protocol and may be approved and provided by submitting a letter of request addressed to the head of the concerned office, bureau, service or unit:

Observations and/or photo/video/audio shoots at DSWD premises, except those involving DSWD’s clients or beneficiaries. If a photo, audio or video of a client or beneficiary is essential for the study, the researcher shall secure the consent of the Center Head/Client/Beneficiary.
Briefing/interview/orientation sessions with key focal persons in the Central Office on general information about DSWD programs, policies and projects. The DSWD, however, discourages requests for “practice interviews” of DSWD personnel for the sole purpose of student’s acquisition of interview skills, in consideration of the valuable time taken away from the personnel when accommodating student researchers.
Conduct of surveys with DSWD employees about subject matters that do not directly concern the Department or not related to the DSWD’s program operations.
Studies conducted by consultants/researchers under the Technical Assistance Facility (TAF) grant portfolio. The researchers, however, shall adhere to the policies on undertaking research and evaluation studies as stipulated in the Guidelines for the Conduct of Research and Evaluation in the DSWD.

Who may avail:

External researchers (e.g., students, academe, other government agencies including members of other branches of government, local and international organizations or research institutions, and other independent researchers, including DSWD personnel researching to pursue higher academic education) who intend to conduct research studies related to or involving the DSWD.

CHECKLIST OF REQUIREMENTS

WHERE TO SECURE

If request shall not undergo Research Protocol:

1. Request letter

If the request shall undergo Research Protocol:

Request letter
Research Request Form
Research Brief
Research Instruments

Researcher

Researcher
PPD-PDPS
PPD-PDPS
Researcher

Social Welfare and Development (SWD) data and information are provided to external researchers upon their request, specifically for secondary data. Requests for secondary SWD data and information need not go through the DSWD Research Protocol (or DSWD Memorandum Circular No. 10 s. 2019) and may be approved and provided by submitting a letter of request addressed to the head of the concerned office, bureau, service or unit. Secondary SWD data refers to data that has already been consolidated and/or published by the DSWD and readily available as public document.

Who may avail	Researchers such as students, academe, other government agencies including members of other branches of government, local and international organizations or research institutions and other independent researchers who are requesting current and secondary SWD data and statistics from the DSWD.
CHECKLIST OF REQUIREMENTS	WHERE TO SECURE
Request letter	Requesting party