As the primary institution in the field of social welfare and development, DSWD has been a host of various studies, mostly for academic purposes.  These studies focused on the programs and services being implemented by the Department at our centers and in specific communities. Such studies are most welcomed as these helps improve the Department’s programs and services, and in certain ways advocate for support.

Because of these effects, the Field Office thoroughly reviews all requests for conduct of researches to ensure that each undertaking is beneficial to all parties involved, the researcher, the agency, the academic institution and the disadvantaged client group being served.  The results of the studies are also reviewed to determine strategic significance, and how results affect current policies and implementation practices.

Among the subject of studies recently requested at the Field Office includes:
– Job Satisfaction and Compassion Fatigue of DSWD Social Workers
– Effectiveness of DSWD Programs and Services
– Proposed Architectural Designs of DSWD Centers
– Therapies for Victim-survivors of all forms of Abuse
– Loneliness/Depression of clients in DSWD Centers

For interested researchers, kindly click the buttons below for the guidelines, downloadable forms and contact details.

Request for Primary and Secondary Data

A. Requests for interview and / or statistics

Researchers are advised to submit a letter of request (addressed to the OIC Regional Director – Annie E. Mendoza, DSWD Field Office IV-A) endorsed by the teacher / professor / supervisor two weeks prior to the conduct of the interview or release of the statistics requested. The letter must clearly indicate the following:

• Full names of the researchers and the school / organization they represent;
• Title of research/project and its purpose;
• Reasons for requesting the data or conducting the interview
• List of statistics / data needed or guide questions / interview tool with informed consent 
• Contact details (including email address) and signature of the requesting party

In compliance to RA 10173 (commonly known as Data Privacy Act of 2012) we are not allowed to release the names of our beneficiaries/ clients and staff, but only the figures/ statistic according to the categories (i.e. No. of clients per sex, marital status, age, location) identified by the requesting party. 

B. For Listahanan list of poor households.

The requesting party is advised to submit a formal intent containing the same details listed above. Upon approval of the intent, the requesting party is required to undergo the following:

1. sign a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Field Office (for data security and clientele privacy purpose)
2. attend a data utilization orientation and / or consultation meeting.

All letters of request will be acknowledged upon receipt and any succeeding clarifications or inquiries about the request, or instructions related to this will be sent via email. Should a request have not been acknowledged after three working days, the requesting party are advised to contact our office to follow-up.

Request to conduct research

A. For researchers working on their thesis or dissertation

Researchers are advised to submit the following two weeks prior to the conduct of the data gathering (i.e. survey, focus group discussion):

• Formal request letter (addressed to the OIC Regional Director – Annie E. Mendoza, DSWD Field Office IV-A) endorsed by the teacher / professor / supervisor containing the following:
• Full names of the researchers and the school / organization they represent;
• Title of research/project and its purpose;
• Contact details and signature of the requesting party
• List of statistics / data needed
• Filled-out Research Request Form for those working on their thesis/ dissertation or Filled-out Research Brief Form ; and
• Thesis/ Research proposal containing the following chapters:
• Chapter 1: Background, rationale, statement of the problem, objectives and significance of the study, and theoretical and/or conceptual framework;
• Chapter 2: Review of related literature (foreign and/or local); and
• Chapter 3: Methodology or design, sampling technique, procedures, samples, size and site, and research instrument(s) (e.g. survey or interview questionnaires with informed consent, observation or test guides, etc.).

B. For Architecture Students and those working on their term papers Researchers are advised to submit the following two weeks prior to the conduct of the data gathering (i.e. survey, focus group discussion):

• Formal request letter (addressed to the OIC Regional Director – Annie E. Mendoza, DSWD Field Office IV-A) endorsed by the teacher / professor / supervisor containing the following:
• Full names of the researchers and the school / organization they represent;
• Title of research/project and its purpose;
• Contact details and signature of the requesting party
• List of statistics / data needed
• Filled-out Research Brief Form (refer to downloadable forms); and
• Research instrument(s) (e.g. survey questionnaires, interview guide) with informed consent/

Note that topics that will require clients in our centers (i.e. National Training School for Boys (NTSB), Regional Haven for Women and Girls (RHWG) and Bahay Tuluyan (BT) as interview / survey respondents are for graduate and post graduate students / licensed practitioners only.

Research Process

The submitted documents will be reviewed based on the following:

• Completeness (i.e. duly signed by requesting party, chapters of the proposal); and
• Appropriateness of tools and methodology that will be used to clients or staff.

Once the documents are reviewed, the Field Office may request the researchers to revise their tools and methodologies based on the results of conducted research or appropriateness of the terms /methodologies that will be used. Endorsement to conduct the research will serve as the researcher’s permit and will be sent via email once the revised tools and methodology is submitted. Additional instructions will be indicated on the said email for the researcher’s reference.

Upon completion of the research, researchers are requested to:

• Participate in an exit conference arranged after the interview or upon generating the initial findings of the survey. This is to avert from putting the Department or its personnel in any derogatory situation without affording the chance to refuse any unfavorable observation;
• Give attribution or appropriate credit to the DSWD as the source of the data if written documents, audio visual or oral presentations are produced; and
• Students must submit the final research report with its abstract according on the following:
• For research in programs and other services: one hardbound copy of the thesis / softbound final report and an e-copy saved in a CD
• For research in DSWD centers: two (2) hardbound copies of the thesis / softbound copies final report with CDs containing its e-copies.

Failure to submit a copy of the research report / hardbound copy of the thesis will eventually lead to blacklisting the researcher(s) and the Department/ College/ University/ Organization where they are enrolled or connected to.

Reminders

A. General Policies

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

1. 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.”
2. Data requests concerning Pantawid Pamilya, National Household Targeting System and other offices shall follow the data sharing protocols set by the said offices
3. 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.
4. 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
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. The researchers must observe proper decorum and comply with office policies during the conduct of their activities.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. With consent from author/s, completed research studies may be utilized by the Department through:
    • Publication in the Department’s SWD journal (both print and online versions)
    • Dissemination through DSWD-initiated SWD fora and research colloquia
    • Application of findings/recommendations in policy and program decisions
    • Other knowledge products e.g. training materials/manuals for capacity building, position papers, policy notes, IEC materials, etc.

B. Research Ethics Policy

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

• Valuing the rights, interests, and dignity of all persons involved.
• Respecting confidentiality of information provided by the participants, especially, any agreement to grant anonymity. 
• Obtaining from participants only information relevant to the study.
• 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.
• Giving respondents freedom to decline participation or withdraw from the study at any time.
• Maintaining integrity & quality of the research design, methodology and findings.
• 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. 

Note that violating these rules will mean revoking the permission to conduct the research study any time during the conduct of the research and to waive any or all the provisions set in AO. No. 19, when need arises.

List of Priority Research topics

The DSWD encourages researchers to focus on relevant topics and social issues that will assist in the development of social protection policies and programs for the poor, disadvantaged, and vulnerable sectors of our society. To assist the researchers in determining this kind of topic, we suggest the following that are aligned with the Department’s Research Agenda:

On Policy Development:

• Perceived effects of the Family Development Sessions (FDS) to the Indigenous Peoples (IP) beneficiaries of the Modified Conditional Cash Transfer on teenage pregnancy
• Delivery of Social Welfare and Social Protection and Programs and Services in the Context of Devolution
• Effect of centrally-crafted policies on regional implementation and delivery of services
• Mainstreaming Adoption Process to Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office

On Program Development and Implementation:

• Effectiveness of the After-Care Program for Children in Conflict with the law*
• Effectiveness of local government unit’s (LGU) policies and programs in addressing children victims of sexual abuse*
• Assessment on the capacity of the parents to sustain the nutrition of the children to Supplementary Feeding Program
• Assessment on the compliance and effectiveness of the VAWC process flow*
• Cost of disability
• Culture-specific Disaster Preparedness and Response;
• Psycho-social Responses for Internally Displaced People
• The need for Long Term Care Policy for Senior Citizens in the Philippines
• Assessment on the Effectiveness of Sustainable Livelihood Program Modalities
• Assessment on the Implementation of the Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens
• Assessment of LGUs on the Capacity to Implement Day Care Services
• Factors Affecting the Adoption of Children in Child Caring Agencies*
• Assessment of the Gender Sensitivity Training for Male Spouses

On Empowerment of Stakeholders:

• Experience of DSWD and LGUs after the Devolution of Social Welfare Services
• Increasing Functionality of LSWDOs as Frontline Services Providers
• Comparative study: SW LSWDO vs non-SW LSWDO in management and delivery of SWD programs and services

• Effectiveness of CSO-DSWD-LGU partnerships in implementing a social welfare program to address social issues/concerns.

On Organizational Development

• Managing Sustainable Employee Engagement
• Identify Level of Satisfaction of Employees
• SWD Standards: Its Applicability and its Effect to the Community
• Review current policies and benefits for the welfare of staff

*Note that topics that will require clients in our centers as interview / survey respondents are for graduate and post graduate students / licensed practitioners only.

Contact Details

For NGAs, LGUs, Research Organization or Institution, and those conducting dissertations covering more than one region, request letters must be addressed to:

Rolando Joselito D. Bautista
Secretary
Department of Social Welfare and Development
Constitution Hills, Batasan Pambansa Complex,
Quezon City, 1100 Metro Manila

For undergraduate and graduate students whose research locale is within Region IV-A, request letters must be addressed to:

Ms. Annie E. Mendoza
OIC – Regional Director
DSWD Field Office IV-A
Alabang-Zapote Road, Alabang,
Muntinlupa City

For queries regarding research, contact:

Policy Development and Planning Section – Policy and Plans Division
DSWD Field Office IV-A
Email: dswdfo4a_tplanning@yahoo.com / hmmaligaya.fo4a@e-dswd.net
Telefax: 807-1518 loc 80419

For queries regarding access to Listahanan data, contact:

National Household Targeting Section
DSWD Field Office IV-A
Email: dswdfo4a_nhts@yahoo.com
Telefax: 807-1518 loc 80456