Abstract:
The commissioning of research by an interest group to promote its own goals raises a number of professional and ethical issues concerning research focus, design and accountability. This paper examines such issues through an example of a recently completed commissioned research project.
The example used is the Poor and Catholic Schools project. This was commissioned in 1992 by the Conference of Leaders of Religious Institutes (CLRI) NSW in order to identify current perceptions, strategies, practices, capacities and issues in relation to the poor and NSW Catholic schools as a base for future action in this area. In commissioning the project, the CLRI was seeking to promote more effective ways of addressing the needs of the poor through the Catholic education system.
In order to achieve this goal, particular strategies were built into the financing, design, and reporting of the project. A review of the project's outcomes over the last 18 months indicates that these strategies have had some success in terms of local and system action.
An invitation has also been extended to undertake a national commissioned project to study the issues within a wider context.
Details of the strategies, key findings and impact of the project are provided in the paper as well as an examination of the research issues arising in this type of project.
The example used is the Poor and Catholic Schools project. This was commissioned in 1992 by the Conference of Leaders of Religious Institutes (CLRI) NSW in order to identify current perceptions, strategies, practices, capacities and issues in relation to the poor and NSW Catholic schools as a base for future action in this area. In commissioning the project, the CLRI was seeking to promote more effective ways of addressing the needs of the poor through the Catholic education system.
In order to achieve this goal, particular strategies were built into the financing, design, and reporting of the project. A review of the project's outcomes over the last 18 months indicates that these strategies have had some success in terms of local and system action.
An invitation has also been extended to undertake a national commissioned project to study the issues within a wider context.
Details of the strategies, key findings and impact of the project are provided in the paper as well as an examination of the research issues arising in this type of project.