Request for Ethical Approval for Students on Taught Programmes

This form is for students on taught programmes to request ethical approval for their research study. It includes sections for the aim of the study, study design and methods, study sample, ethical considerations, and required resources.

Request for ethical approval for students on taught programmes
Please complete this form and return it to your supervisor as advised in your module handbook.
Feedback on your application will be via your supervisor or co-ordinator.
Title of proposed research study
The impact of E-marketing on Consumer Purchase Decision-making process. A
case study on Baleno company
Supervisor Comments
Are the ethical implications of the proposed research
adequately described in this application?
Yes  No 
Does the overall study have low, moderate or high risk in
terms of ethical implications?
Low  Moderate  High 
Does the study method describe a process of research that
is ethically sound?
Yes  No 
Signatures
The information supplied is, to the best of my knowledge and belief, accurate. I clearly understand
my obligations and the rights of the participants. I agree to act at all times in accordance with
University of Derby Policy and Code of Practice on Research Ethics:
http://www.derby.ac.uk/research/ethics-and-governance/research-ethics-and-governance
Signature of applicant
Date of submission by applicant
Signature of supervisor
Date of signature by supervisor
For Committee Use Reference Number (Subject area initials/year/ID number)………………….
Date received……………… Date approved ……………. Signed………………………
Comments
Revised Jan 2012

1. What is the aim of your study? What are the objectives for your study?
The aim is to analyse impact of E-marketing on Consumer Purchase Decision-
making process. A case study on Baleno company
Objectives are :-
To evaluate role of e marketing on consumer purchase decision making process.
To identify factors affecting consumer purchase decision process.
To analyse trends in e marketing
To recommend ways the E-marketing used by Baleno company to better target its customers
2. Explain the rationale for this study (refer to relevant research literature in your response).
This study is been conducted to analyse how e marketing is impacting on consumer purchase decision
process. This is because there exist a gap when customer buy products from physical store by viewing ads
on newspapers, TV, etc. and when they view it on social media. There are many reason due to which
consumer decision is influenced. So, this topic will help in finding reason or factors due to which there is
impact on decision making process. However, people are preferring e marketing as tool to gather info and
data.
3. Provide an outline of your study design and methods.
Research design - Descriptive design is used to as it will enable in analysing in depth about how e marketing is
influencing consumer purchase decision.
Research method- in this quantitative research method will be used and questionnaire method is used.
4. Please provide a detailed description of the study sample, covering selection, sample profile,
recruitment and if appropriate, inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Sample – here, random sampling method will be used to select participants. The sample size will be 20
employees of Baleno company
5. Are payments or rewards/incentives going to be made to the participants? Yes  No 
If so, please give details below.
Revised Jan 2012

6. Please indicate how you intend to address each of the following ethical considerations in your
study. If you consider that they do not relate to your study please say so.
Guidance to completing this section of the form is provided at the end of the document.
a. Consent
b. Deception
c. Debriefing
d. Withdrawal from the investigation
e. Confidentiality
f. Protection of participants
g. Observation research
h. Giving advice
i. Research undertaken in public places
j. Data protection
k. Animal Rights
l. Environmental protection
7. Are there any further ethical implications arising from your proposed research? Yes  No 
If your answer was no, please explain why.
8. Have / do you intend to request ethical approval from any other body/organisation? Yes  No 
If ‘Yes’ – please give details
9. What resources will you require? (e.g. psychometric scales, IT equipment, specialised software,
access to specialist facilities, such as microbiological containment laboratories).
IT equipment, specialised software to store data and analyse it.
10. What study materials will you use? (Please give full details here of validated scales, bespoke
questionnaires, interview schedules, focus group schedules etc and attach all materials to the
application)
Questionnaire
Which of the following have you appended to this application?
 Focus group questions  Psychometric scales
 Self-completion questionnaire  Interview questions
 Other debriefing material  Covering letter for participants
 Information sheet about your research study  Informed consent forms for participants
 Other (please describe)
PLEASE SUBMIT THIS APPLICATION WITH ALL APPROPRIATE DOCUMENTATION
Revised Jan 2012

Advice on completing the ethical considerations aspects of a
programme of research
Consent
Informed consent must be obtained for all participants before they take part in your project. The
form should clearly state what they will be doing, drawing attention to anything they could
conceivably object to subsequently. It should be in language that the person signing it will
understand. It should also state that they can withdraw from the study at any time and the
measures you are taking to ensure the confidentiality of data. If children are recruited from
schools you will require the permission, depending on the school, of the head teacher, and of
parents. Children over 14 years should also sign an individual consent form themselves. If
conducting research with children or vulnerable adults you will normally also require Criminal
Records Bureau clearance. Research to be carried out in any institution (prison, hospital, etc.)
will require permission from the appropriate authority.
Covert or Deceptive Research
Research involving any form of deception can be particularly problematical, and you should
provide a full explanation of why a covert or deceptive approach is necessary, why there are no
acceptable alternative approaches not involving deception, and the scientific justification for
deception.
Debriefing
Debriefing is a process of reflection once the research intervention is complete, for example at
the end of an interview session. How will participants be debriefed (written or spoken
feedback)? If they will not be debriefed, give reasons. Please attach the written debrief or
transcript for the oral debrief. This can be particularly important if covert or deceptive research
methods are used.
Withdrawal from investigation
Participants should be told explicitly that they are free to leave the study at any time without
jeopardy. It is important that you clarify exactly how and when this will be explained to
participants. Participants also have the right to withdraw their data in retrospect, after you have
received it. You will need to clarify how they will do this and at what point they will not be able
to withdraw (i.e. after the data has been analysed and disseminated).
Protection of participants
Are the participants at risk of physical, psychological or emotional harm greater than
encountered ordinary life? If yes, describe the nature of the risk and steps taken to minimise it.
Observational research
If observational research is to be conducted without prior consent, please describe the
situations in which observations will take place and say how local cultural values and privacy of
individuals and/or institutions will be taken into account.
Giving advice
Students should not put themselves in a position of authority from which to provide advice and
should in all cases refer participants to suitably qualified and appropriate professionals.
Revised Jan 2012

Research in public places
You should pay particular attention to the implications of research undertaken in public places.
The impact on the social environment will be a key issue. You must observe the laws of
obscenity and public decency. You should also have due regard to religious and cultural
sensitivities.
Confidentiality/Data Protection
You must comply with the Data Protection Act and the University's Good Scientific Practice
http://www.derby.ac.uk/research/policy-and-strategy This means:
 It is very important that the Participant Information Sheet includes information on what
the research is for, who will conduct the research, how the personal information will be
used, who will have access to the information and how long the information will be kept
for. This is known as a 'fair processing statement.'
 You must not do anything with the personal information you collect over and above that
for which you have consent.
 You can only make audio or visual recordings of participants with their consent (this
should be stated on the Participant Information sheet)
 Identifiable personal information should only be conveyed to others within the
framework of the act and with the participant's permission.
 You must store data securely. Consent forms and data should be stored separately and
securely.
 You should only collect data that is relevant to the study being undertaken.
 Data may be kept indefinitely providing its sole use is for research purposes and meets
the following conditions:
 The data is not being used to take decisions in respect of any living individual.
 The data is not being used in any which is, or is likely to, cause damage and/or distress
to any living individual.
 You should always protect a participant's anonymity unless they have given their
permission to be identified (if they do so, this should be stated on the Informed Consent
Form).
 All data should be returned to participants or destroyed if consent is not given after the
fact, or if a participant withdraws.
Animal rights.
Research which might involve the study of animals at the University is not likely to involve
intrusive or invasive procedures. However, you should avoid animal suffering of any kind and
should ensure that proper animal husbandry practices are followed. You should show respect
for animals as fellow sentient beings.
Environmental protection
The negative impacts of your research on the natural environment and animal welfare, must be
minimised and must be compliant to current legislation. Your research should appropriately
weigh longer-term research benefit against short-term environmental harm needed to achieve
research goals.
Revised Jan 2012