Research Ethics and Data Protection

This document presents a detailed research ethics form that needs to be completed by students conducting research. It covers essential aspects like obtaining informed consent, ensuring participant privacy, handling sensitive information, and storing data securely. The form prompts reflection on potential ethical issues, risks to participants, and measures to mitigate harm. Students must also declare their understanding of the institution's Research and Ethics Policy and confirm discussion with their Unit Tutor regarding ethical concerns.

RESEARCH
PROJECT

Research Proposal Form
Student Name: ______________________ Student ID:
______________________
Centre Name: _____________________
Tutor: ________________ Date:
___________________
Unit: ____________________
Proposed Title:
Section One: Title, objective, responsibilities
Title or working title of the research project (in the form of a
question, objective or hypothesis)
“To Identify the impact of digital technology on business activity of
SMEs. A case study on Ensoft Ltd. ”
Research objectives (e.g what is the question you want to answer?
What do you want to learn how to do? What do you want to find
out?):
 To determine the concept of Artificial Intelligence.
 To identify various issues faced by firm while implementing Artificial Intelligence.
 To determine different field in which Artificial Intelligence can be implemented.
 To examine the benefits of Artificial Intelligence for increasing
productivity and profitability of business.
Section Two: Reasons for choosing this research project
Reasons for choosing the project (e.g links to other subjects you
are studying, personal interest, future plans, knowledge/skills you
want to improve, why the topic is important):
The main reason behind selecting this project is to enhance the learner
skills and knowledge towards the concept of Artificial Intelligence. By this,
researcher can easily take right decision towards the research topic.
1

Section Three: Literature sources searched
Use of key literature sources to support your research question,
objective or hypothesis:
Concept of Artificial Intelligence
According to Zang and et. al., (2015), Artificial Intelligence is considered as an
area of computer science which is essential in emphasizing the creation of
new intelligent machines that generally works or reacts like humans.
There are various activities of artificial intelligence such as speech
recognition, planning, learning and problem solving as well. It is a branch
of computer science and the major of creation intelligent machines is to
handle several works in an appropriate manner. This include several core
problems regarding programming computers for certain traits such as
reasoning, perception, learning and problem solving that support in a
particular research. On the other side, an Artificial Intelligence is
progressing in very fluent manner. This is one of the best innovation
which helps in numerous works including big data, medical research and
autonomous vehicles etc. these are some example of incredible application
that generally emerge with the help of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
development. It is necessary to understand the basic concept of artificial
intelligence so that clear knowledge can be gained regarding benefits of
this digital tool.
Identify various issues that face by firm during implementing Artificial
Intelligence
There are various kinds of issues or problems that can be occurred during
implementing and adopting Artificial Intelligence within organisation.
Therefore, Ensoft Ltd are required to overcome these issues and
challenges for meeting desired outcomes in an effective manner. Some
issues are as following;
Artificial Intelligence human interface: As per the views of Fallon and et.
al., (2015), It is the major issue in this digital tool where it is founded that
shortage of data science skills and knowledges can become a major
challenge for an organisation.
Investment: This is another biggest issues for businesses while
implementing artificial intelligence because it may require higher
investments.
Lack of computer power: The reasons behind of occurring several
issues is that lack of computer power as it shows the most promises by
machine and deep learning so that huge number of calculations can be
made in very quick manner.
Fields for implementing artificial intelligence in an organisation
According to Nourani and et. al. (2014), Every organisation have to
understand Artificial Intelligence and its potentials if they hope to stay
ahead and achieve success during the game. It is essential for
organisation in grabbing various opportunities and gaining best possible
outcomes in an appropriate way. There are defined various fields and
areas where Ensoft Ltd can introduce the Artificial Intelligence such as:
2

 Artificial Intelligence in E-commerce:
 Artificial Intelligence for improving communication in
workplace
 Human Resource Management
 Intelligent cybersecurity
The benefits of artificial intelligence for increasing productivity and profitability of business
According to Dunne and et. al. (2015), Artificial Intelligence is very complex in
its nature which is mixture of different complicated factors of computer.
In this involved computer science, complex sciences and mathematics
which help to the machine in doing effective work.
Error reduction: Artificial Intelligence is very helpful in reducing the
error and make possible the degree of precision in a great manner. For
example, Intelligent robots are federal with several informations and data
that are to be sent for exploring space as well.
Increase Automation: There are wide scope of adoption of Artificial
Intelligence technologies that support in increasing economy in well
manner
Reduce Time: It can be considered as flat in its nature that is generally
carried out by using machine intelligence. Machine work and think very
fast as compare to humans so that they have capabilities in doing multiple
tasks with same time.
Section Four: Activities and timescales
Activities to be carried out during the research project
(e.g research, development and analysis of ideas,
writing, data collection, numerical analysis, tutor
meetings, production of final outcome, evaluation,
writing the report):
How long
this will
take:
3

4

Milestone one: _________________
Target date (set by tutor): ____________________
Milestone two: _______________________
Target date (set by tutor): ______________________
Section Five: Research approach and methodologies
What type of research approach and methodologies are you likely
to use and why?
What your areas of research will cover:
Research approach
It is also an important part of the research methodology which includes investigator
perception in order to gather relevant data and information. In this, two types of research
approaches are used by researcher at the time of gathering relevant data and information.
Deductive research approach is based in the hypothesis which is evaluated from the data which
is available. Along with this, it also examine the hypothesis which help researcher to gather
effective data to attain reliable outcomes (Jha and Topol, 2016). On the other side, inductive
research approach is based on the new theory which is developed by the investigator to collect
information towards the research aim in order to effectively understand all the aspect of the
study. In this research, investigator use inductive research approach to attain valid results
towards the research issues.
Research philosophy
This part of the research methodology is based on the belief in which data and
information should be collected and analysed as well. Thus, it is important for investigator to
select right and suitable philosophy for collecting data and information towards the research
topic. In this context, there are two type of research philosophy such as positivism and
interpretivism. in this researcher use intrepretivism for gather data which is based on the
human interest and research topic as well.
5

Comments and agreement from tutor
Comments (optional):
I confirm that the project is not work which has been or will be
submitted for another qualification and is appropriate.
Agreed: ________________ (name)_______________ Date ______________
Comments and agreement form project proposal checker( IV
sampling)
Comments (Optional):
I confirm that the project is appropriate.
Agreed /Disagree: (Name of the IV)
Date
6

Research Ethics approval form
All students conducting research activity that involves human participants
or the use of data collected form human participants are required to gain
ethical approval before commencing their research. Please answer all
relevant questions and note that your form may be returned if incomplete.
For further support and guidance please see your respective Unit Tutor:
Before completing this form, we advise that you discuss your proposed
research fully
with your unit tutor. Please complete this form in good time before your
research project is due to commence.
Section 1: Basic details:
Project title: “To analyse the implication of Artificial Intelligence on
increasing productivity and profitability of business. A case study on
Ensoft Ltd. ”
Student name:
Student ID number:
Programme:
College Name:
Intended research start date:
Intended research end date:
Section 2 Project summary
Please select all research methods that you plan to use as a part of your project:
 Interviews Yes No
 Questionnaires Yes No
 Observations Yes No
 Use of personal records Yes No
 Data Analysis Yes No
 Action Research Yes No
 Focus Groups Yes No
7

 Others (Please specify) :
Section 3: Participants
Please answer the following questions, giving full details where necessary.
Will your research involve human participants?
Yes, Human participants will involve in this research.
Who are the participants? Tick all that apply:
Ages 12-16: Young people aged: 17-18 Adults:
How will participants be recruited (identified an approached)?
By conducting an interviews participants will be recruited.
Describe the processes you will use to inform participants about what you are
doing:
By using emails, researcher can easily inform the participants about the
research activities.
How will you obtain consent from participants? Will this be written? How will it
be made clear to participants that they may withdraw consent to participate at
any time?
By using text messaging, emails obtain consent from participants. Yes,
consent will be in written form. With the help of email, researcher ca
easily made clear to participants that they may withdraw consent to
participate at any time.
Studies involving questionnaires: will participants be given the option of
omitting questions that do not wish to answer?
Yes No
If no please explain why below and ensure that you cover any ethical issues
arising from this
Studies involving observation: Confirm whether participants will be asked for
their informed consent to be observed.
Yes No
Will you debrief participants at the end of their participation (i.e give them a
brief explanation of the study)?
Yes No
Will participants be given information about the findings of your study?(This
could be a brief summary of your findings in general)
Yes No
Section 4: Data Storage and Security
Confirm that all personal data will be stored and processed in compliance with
8

the Data Protection Act (1998)
Yes No
Who will have access to the data and personal information?
During the research:
Where will the data be stored?
Will mobile devices such as USB storage and laptops be used
Yes No
If Yes, please provide further details:
After the research:
Where will the data be stored?
How long will the data and records be kept for and in what format?
Will data be kept for use by other researchers?
Yes No
Section 5 : Ethical Issues
Are there any particular features of your proposed work, which may raise
ethical concerns? If so, please outline how you will deal with these:
It is important that you demonstrate your awareness of potential risks that may
arise because of your research. Please consider/address all issues that may
apply. Ethical concerns may include, but are not limited to the following :
 Informed consent.
 Potentially vulnerable participants.
 Sensitive topics
 Risk to participants and /or researchers
 Confidentiality/anonymity
 Disclosures/ limits to confidentiality
 Data storage and security, both during and after the research (including
transfer, sharing, encryption, protection).
 Reporting
 Dissemination and use of your findings.
Section 6: Declaration
I have read, understood and will abide by the institution’s Research and
Ethics Policy:
Yes No
I have discussed the ethical issues relating to my research with my Unit
Tutor:
Yes No
I confirm that to the best of my knowledge:
9

The above information is correct, and this is a full description of the
ethical issues that may arise in the course of my research
Name: Date:
Please submit your completed form to the Cohort Leader and a copy to
your supervisor only
10