Wissenschaftliche Forschungsvorhaben in Schulen: Genehmigung beantragen

You need a permit if you want to carry out scientific research projects (studies, surveys, test series and similar) in public schools.

If you are pursuing a scientific research project in public schools (studies, surveys, test series and similar), you will require approval from the highest school authority (supervisory and service directorate) if the research project involves more than one school authority or vocational schools. If the research project only concerns general education schools and only one school authority area, approval is granted directly by the relevant state education authority.

Meaningful description of the project (synopsis):

• Details of the applicant,
• Names of those responsible for the study and their qualifications,
• Description of the planned procedure, time frame and scientific objective of the project,
• Information on the group of test subjects (overview of all schools to be included by school type and region, year groups, expected number of participants),
• Description of the research instruments,
• Information on the time and personnel requirements of the schools (school management, teachers, pupils),
• Description of the planned evaluation and results feedback,

Information letter to all those involved (school management, teachers, legal guardians or adult pupils):

• Details of those commissioning the survey as well as the names of those responsible for the survey and their qualifications,
• Information on the type of data to be collected, its anonymization and processing, the place and duration of storage and the manner of the intended transmission and use,
• Information on the voluntary nature of participation (also that there is no obligation to answer all questions in the event of participation),
• Information that non-participation is not associated with any disadvantages,
• Information that participation can be revoked at any time without giving reasons and without consequences,
• Contact details of the body collecting the data

Sample of all survey instruments (e.g. questionnaire, interview guide) with complete questions

Data protection declaration of consent from participants aged 14 and over on the basis of the information letter (informed consent)

Data protection declaration of consent from legal guardians on the basis of the information letter for underage participants (informed consent):

• Indication of the priority of non-consent for minors aged 14 and over

Declaration by the applicant to comply with the applicable data protection regulations

• The research project pursues a pedagogical-scientific or equivalent interest.
  • This is recognized if the survey is expected to yield new findings relevant to the school sector.
• The fulfillment of the educational mission is not unduly influenced.
• The burden on the school, pupils and teachers remains within reasonable limits and the school day must not be disrupted. In particular, examinations may only take place outside lesson times.
• The provisions of the GDPR on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data in conjunction with the law on the protection of citizens with regard to the processing of their data (State Data Protection Act - DSG M-V), in particular § 9, are complied with. Video and audio recordings are not permitted.

There are no fees.

• You submit the application with all the necessary documents to the responsible office.
• The application will be checked for completeness and for data protection and school law aspects.
• It will be checked whether the project impairs the educational mission of the school or schools concerned.
• If the project is classified as unobjectionable and an educational and scientific interest in the survey can be recognized, the application will be approved.
• You will receive a permit.
• The head teacher then decides whether or not the school will take part in the survey.

If the results of the approved research project are requested by the approval authority, the applicant is obliged to make them available free of charge.

The use of activity incentives is not permitted.

• Research projects at schools: Applying for approval
• Research projects at public schools are subject to approval
• The research project pursues a pedagogical-scientific purpose
• The research project does not interfere too much with the educational mission of the school
• The application for approval must be submitted at least 3 months before the planned implementation of the research project.
• Exposé of the research project
• Information letter to all parties involved (school management, teachers, legal guardians or adult pupils)
• Sample of all survey instruments (e.g. questionnaire, interview guidelines)
• Data protection consent form for participants aged 14 and over (sample)
• Data protection declaration of consent from legal guardians for underage participants (sample)
• Applicant's declaration of compliance with the applicable data protection regulations
• Ministry of Education and Child Day Care Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

Ministry of Education and Child Day Care Mecklenburg-Vorpommern