CONDUCT OF RESEARCH STUDIES IN DSWD INCLUDING ITS CENTERS AND

INSTITUTIONS

II. General Policies

The following shall be the general policies to be observed relative to the conduct of research in
DSWD Centers and Institutions:

a) DSWD adheres to the Child Protection Policy in the Workplace. Researchers are expected
to observe the same policy in conducting research within or about the Department and its
clients and beneficiaries, particularly Article V. Sec. 5 which states, “Ensure that children who
are under the Department’s programs and services shall not be used as respondents or
subjects in research activities unless their participation is the only means to study and
understand a phenomenon being researched. Should a child be involved in a research or
any form of data gathering, the DSWD shall see to it that utmost care is given to him/her.”

b) Data requests concerning Pantawid Pamilya, National Household Targeting System and
other offices shall follow the data sharing protocols set by the said offices

c) The Department reserves the right to disapprove research requests that do not follow ethical
practices in research, and may compromise DSWD as an organization, any of its staff, clients
and beneficiaries.

d) No documents or other materials of DSWD and its clients, currently in its centers and
institution, may be brought out of the DSWD premises without prior approval from the
Director/Head of Office/ respondents

e) Researchers may wear comfortable clothes, but are prohibited from wearing any of the
following:
• Clothing with a printed message or picture that depicts alcohol, drugs, smoking, sex,
weapons, violence or any forms of obscenity;
• Tank or muscle top and dress/ blouse that are sleeveless, backless, strapless, or have
spaghetti straps unless covered by a jacket or sweater;
• Clothing that are made from sheer or mesh material that exposes undergarments or
midriffs;
• Miniskirts, shorts and ripped jeans; and
• Flip-flops.

f) The DSWD and its personnel shall not be liable for any personal or material harm that may
result from the conduct of the research study or its output.

g) In no instance must the Department or any of its personnel be put in a derogatory situation
without giving the Department or its personnel a chance to refute the unfavorable
observation.

h) The official who approved the research request and/ or the Head/ Officer-in-Charge of the
center / program reserves the right to revoke permission to conduct the research activity at
any time and to waive any and all the provisions contained in the guidelines when the best
interest of the respondents were compromised and in circumstances where DSWD policies
have been violated.

i) The researchers must observe proper decorum and comply with office policies during the
conduct of their activities.

j) If written documents, audio-visual presentations or oral presentations are produced out of the
 activity, the author must give attribution and appropriate credit to the DSWD as the source of
the data.

k) The researchers shall furnish the approving office (whether Central or Field Office) with a
copy of the Final Research Report within one (1) month after the conclusion of the research
study, as part of their ethical responsibilities to DSWD.

l) With consent from author/s, completed research studies may be utilized by the Department
through:

1. Publication in the Department’s SWD journal (both print and online versions)
2. Dissemination through DSWD-initiated SWD fora and research colloquia
3. Application of findings/recommendations in policy and program decisions
4. Other knowledge products e.g. training materials/manuals for capacity building, position
papers, policy notes, IEC materials, etc.

II. Research Ethics Policy

Researchers must uphold the following ethical standards in the implementation of their activities
in DSWD:

1. Valuing the rights, interests, and dignity of all persons involved.

2. Respecting confidentiality of information provided by the participants, especially, any
agreement to grant anonymity.
3. Obtaining from participants only information relevant to the study.
4. Obtaining as appropriate, a written informed consent (or in the case of minor respondents,
informed assent). Researchers must ensure that prospective respondents fully understand
the purpose, procedures and risks involved with their participation in the study.
5. Giving respondents freedom to decline participation or withdraw from the study at any
time.
6. Maintaining integrity & quality of the research design, methodology and findings.
7. Giving the DSWD (especially with the concerned Offices/Bureaus/Sections and/or Staff)
an opportunity to validate and gain knowledge from the results of the research study –
whether through an exit conference or submission of the Final Research Report.