About education research

The Northern Territory Department of Education (the department) values evidence informed practice, driven by high quality educational research and analysis. The department is committed to the benefits which quality research can deliver to students, schools and the education system more broadly.

All researchers who wish to conduct research or an evaluation in the NT must submit an application to the department if their project involves:

  • NT government school students
  • Children, parents, caregivers or community members recruited via the school
  • Departmental employees (including teachers, support staff and corporate staff)
  • Data held by the department (whether publically available or not), and/or departmental intellectual property.

Applying to conduct research

The department encourages research that:

  • aligns with the Education NT Strategic Plan 2018-2022
  • is of benefit or value to students, schools, the department, and the Northern Territory
  • has a strong evidence base
  • has a quality research design
  • contributes new knowledge and/or builds on prior research.

The approval process can take up to 10 weeks. The final decision on whether a school participates in a research project sits with the relevant school principal, and each individual for whom participation remains voluntary.

Tips for applying

Research applications should:

  • clearly demonstrate alignment to Education NT Strategic Plan 2018-2022
  • clearly explain the expected benefits to students and schools
  • be written in clear language and be grammatically correct
  • have clearly articulated research questions and appropriate methodology
  • be complete and have all supporting documentation attached.

The application process

A summary of the application process is shown below. Further detail is included within the Research Guidelines to assist with the application development process:

Please follow these guidelines carefully to avoid delays in the approval process.

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WHO: Researcher

WHAT:

  • Fill out an NT Department of Education Application to Conduct Research (PDF (793.7 KB) | DOCX (84.5 KB)) or Australian Association for Research in Education National Projects Application Form.
  • Request data. Gain ethics approval or provide a letter of ethical conduct
  • Articulate how your research will be culturally safe.
  • Familiarise yourself with NT mandatory reporting obligations.
  • Ensure all supporting documents are included prior to submitting applications.
  • Submit application form to ResearchApps.det@education.nt.gov.au.

WHO: Department of Education (and if required, Researcher)

WHAT:

  • Confirm receipt of application and provide reference number to researcher.
  • Engage with content experts internally to assess application.
  • If required, seek further information and/or clarify application with researcher (Note: this will extend the timeline for approval).
  • Complete research application assessment according to key assessment criteria.

WHO: Department of Education

WHAT:

  • Email researcher outcome letter within 5 days of the department’s delegate supporting/not supporting their research application.
  • If the application is conditionally supported, the researcher must provide a response to the conditions outlined in the letter of conditional support within 14 days. If these conditions are met, a letter of full support will be provided.

WHO: Researcher/Principal

WHAT:

  • Invite schools to participate, noting the decision to participate is at the discretion of the school principal and relevant individuals.
  • Obtain consent from the relevant principal and individual participants.
  • Researchers must email a list of participating schools to the department once consent has been obtained.

WHO: Researcher (and Department of Education)

WHAT:

  • Email the DOE Performance team at stats.det@education.nt.gov.au. Include:
    • outcome letter from the Department of Education
    • brief overview of scope of research and data requirements
    • completed participant consent forms (if applicable) and
    • a copy of application form.
  • The Performance team will then work with the researcher regarding data provision.

WHO: Researcher

WHAT:

  • Undertake research.
  • Advise department of schools engaged.

WHO: Researcher

WHAT:

  • Email the department to request changes to your supported research.

WHO: Department of Education

WHAT:

  • Monitor capacity of schools engaged in research.
  • Advise School Improvement and Leadership and senior executives of research.
  • Record research in repository.

WHO: Researcher

WHAT:

  • Provide a summary of research findings, final report, and any publications to the department 30 days prior to publishing.

WHO: Department of Education

WHAT:

  • Review report and develop summary of findings.
  • Circulate summary of findings to relevant business area.

Research involving non-government schools

Researchers who seek to include NT catholic and/or independent schools are required to apply individually to the NT Catholic Education Office, or the Association of Independent Schools NT (AISNT) as relevant.

Contact us

If you have any further questions regarding the research application process, or research being conducted in NT Government education sites, please don’t hesitate to contact us via

Email: researchapps.det@education.nt.gov.au
Phone: 08 8999 3554

Last updated: 15 September 2021

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