Gender Pay Gap Dissertation Proposal

This dissertation proposal aims to evaluate the phenomena of gender pay gap and its impact on employee performance. It will analyze the factors and reasons behind gender pay gap and identify strategies to overcome it. The research questions will focus on understanding the concept of gender pay gap, identifying its causes, exploring its impact on employee performance, and suggesting strategies for overcoming it. The methodology will involve a systematic literature review using secondary sources of data. The planned outputs of this study include a better understanding of gender pay gap, its causes, and its impact on employee performance, as well as strategies for addressing this issue. The subject of this study is gender pay gap, and the course code and name are not mentioned. The college/university is not mentioned either.

Dissertation Proposal Form
Project title: Gender pay gap
Start and end
dates of
research:
April 2020 to January 2021
Proposed activity – aims, objectives, research question(s), and state
how it is novel
Aim
To evaluate about the phenomena of gender pay gap along with analysing its
impact on performance of employees. A research project on Holiday Inn
Objectives
 To evaluate about the phenomena of gender pay gap.
 To determine the possible factors and reasons that created and
supported the concept of gender pay gap at workplace.
 To analysis about the impact of gender pay gap on the performance of
employees.
 To identify the best ways and strategies that can be adopted by Holiday
Inn to overcome the issues and challenges created by Gender pay gap.
Research questions
 What is meant by the phenomena of gender pay gap?
 What are the possible factors and reasons that created and supported
the concept of gender pay gap at workplace?
 What possible impact would be lead out by the of gender pay gap on
the performance of employees?
 Which can be the best ways and strategies that can be adopted by
Holiday Inn to overcome the issues and challenges created by Gender
pay gap?
Methodology – rationale, data selection and collection, recruitment,
participant demographics, analytical process
RC 03 Combined Research Proposal and Ethics Form v3 Jul 20

Rationale
Selection of current research topic is rationale as the issue of gender pay gap
is highly increasing and leading to reduction in employee’s performance and
morale level. Thus, better understanding about reason creating gender pay
gap is vital along with analysing best ways and strategies that can be adopted
to overcome the issues and challenges created by Gender pay gap. Apart
from this, improvement in managerial skills and competencies is also lead out
by current investigation.
Data selection and collection- data would be selected and collected from
secondary sources with the help of online article and journals.
Participants recruitment and demographic- current research is based on
secondary source of information thus, no participants would be selected for
data collection.
Analytical process- implication of qualitative form of research method
would be along with use of systematic literature review as analytical process
which comprises of collection of data with the help of online article and journal
is made.
References
Sengupta, P. and Puri, R., 2021. Gender Pay Gap in India: A Reality and the Way Forward—An
Empirical Approach Using Quantile Regression Technique. Studies in Microeconomics,
p.2321022221995674.
Hong Vo, D., Van, L.T.H., Tran, D.B., Vu, T.N. and Ho, C.M., 2021. The determinants of gender
income inequality in Vietnam: A longitudinal data analysis. Emerging Markets Finance and
Trade, 57(1), pp.198-222.
Primas, F., 2021. Initiatives to tackle the gender gap in astronomy. Pure and Applied Chemistry.
Amin, S. and Uyar, B., 2021. Pay gap between foreign-born and native-born doctors in the United
States. Applied Economics, 53(5), pp.650-662.
Project management
RC 03 Combined Research Proposal and Ethics Form v3 Jul 20

Table: Project timeline and key outputs
Activity Month
Aims and objective 28-4-2020
Research methodology 3-6-2020
Literature review 8-7-2020
Data collection 17-8-2020
Data analysis 31-10-2021
Conclusion and recommendations 14-12-2021
Final submission 28-1-2021
Supervision Meetings
RC 03 Combined Research Proposal and Ethics Form v3 Jul 20

Research Data Management Plan (Describe the data you expect to acquire or
generate during this research project, how you will manage, describe, analyse, and store the
data and what mechanisms you will use to share and preserve your data.)
Use of secondary form of data would be made. Secondary data would be
acquired from the online articles and journals and data would be stored in PCs
and USB portal.
Planned outputs/publications/research
datasets/impact/dissemination
The output of current investigation would consist of better understanding
about the phenomena of gender par gap along with possible factors and
reasons that created and supported the concept of gender pay gap at
workplace. Beside this, improved understanding about impact would of
gender pay gap on the performance of employees along with analysing best
ways and strategies to overcome the issues and challenges created by
Gender pay gap are also the planned output for current study.
If successful, I undertake to carry out
the research according to the
University’s Ethics code of Practice
and will be required to complete an
Ethics checklist – see relevant forms
detailed under Primary Research
(Applicant’s signature required)
………………………………………………….
Date and signature of Supervisor
approval ………………………………………………….
Date and signature of Employer
approval (required for Apprentices
only)
………………………………………………….
RC 03 Combined Research Proposal and Ethics Form v3 Jul 20

ETHICS REVIEW PROCESS STUDENT
ETHICS REVIEW PROCESS STAFF
RC 03 Combined Research Proposal and Ethics Form v3 Jul 20
Ethics submitted to
supervisor for approval
Ethics submitted to UG/PG
Dissertation ML/PTL for
final approval
Ethics submitted

Research Ethics Application Form
All research conducted by students require ethical approval. The application should be
sent to your supervisor with your research proposal and any supporting documentation
such as a recruitment invitation letter or guide, recruitment flyer (online/offline), participant
information sheet, informed consent form, permission letter form an organisation to use
their premises, participant instruction guide, questionnaire, measures, interview questions,
debrief form, and any supporting or additional documentation that will be provided to the
participants, or those helping with the research such as gatekeepers and assistants.
Secondary Research Only (Answer up to and including
Question 3)
Complete information up to and including Question 3 if you are conducting ONLY secondary
research and can answer YES to the following question:
This investigation will NOT involve the collection of data from human participants,
though it may collect data about individuals from published matter (e.g., previously
published interviews or behavioural data).
Once the application and research proposal are reviewed and approved by your Supervisor,
it will be sent to the Module Leader (ML)/Programme Team Leader (PTL) for final approval.
You cannot collect data until final approval has been provided by the ML/PTL.
Please complete the information below.
Please circle Yes or No to the following questions and where indicated please provide
further information
1. Are you required to use a professional code of ethics and conduct relevant to your
profession (e.g. British Psychological Society, Health Care Professions Council
National Health Service, Ministry of Defence, the Law Society)
NO
If yes, please state
2. If yes, have you read the relevant professional code of ethics and conducts?
YES
3. Are you sourcing secondary data? (e.g. Information from web sites, journal articles,
archives)
YES
RC 03 Combined Research Proposal and Ethics Form v3 Jul 20

If yes, please provide details
The reference list of the article and journals used are provide above.
(THIS IS THE END OF THE FORM TO BE COMPLETED
IF YOU ARE UNDERTAKING SECONDARY RESEARCH)
(IF CONDUCTING PRIMARY RESEARCH, PLEASE
COMPLETE THE REST OF THE FORM
Primary research is used if your investigation involves the collection of data directly
from human participants, rather than depending on data collected from previously
completed research, and this can be in the form of a questionnaire, survey, interview
or experiments.
All forms for primary research MUST accompany this Ethics form, including
A full draft of the questionnaire, interview questions, survey or experiment
PLUS:
 Participant Information Sheet
 Participant Informed Consent Form
 Participant Debrief Sheet
 Evidence of organisational approval (where relevant)
 Recruitment poster/invitation letter or email
These forms can be found in the Dissertation Module on ilearn
A proviso is to be used if all of the correct paperwork has been submitted, and this includes
a questionnaire that addresses the research aims and objectives but which requires some
minor amendments such as phrasing of questions, typos, grammatical errors and so
on. Therefore, the form can be approved as long as the conditions of the proviso are met.
Guarantee of the changes being met can be authorised by the supervisor and this will save
going through the whole proposal/ethics approval process again. The supervisor MUST see
the proviso changes before the student uses the instrument.
4. Are you using an external research instrument or validated scale? (e.g.
survey/psychometric))
YES/NO
If yes, please provide a reference.
RC 03 Combined Research Proposal and Ethics Form v3 Jul 20

5. Are you sourcing primary data involving participants (e.g. Surveys, interviews, focus
group, Internet forums)?
YES/NO
6. Are you dealing with sensitive data (e.g. personal data, organisational data, those
with vulnerable groups)?
YES/NO
If yes, please outline how this data will be stored securely to ensure compliance with
GDPR (all data MUST be stored on the AU Onedrive, not on personal drives)
7. Are you sourcing secondary data? (e.g. Information from web sites, journal articles,
archives)
YES/NO
If yes, please provide details
8. Does the study require DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks?
**Please note that unless already working with this population, permission will not be
granted to students to data collect from this population)
YES/NO
If yes, please provide serial number, date obtained and expiry data
9. Does the study involve direct contact with:
**Please note that unless already working with this population, permission will not be
granted to students to data collect from this population)
Vulnerable adults (e.g. learning difficulties, dementia, living in residential care)
YES/NO
Those under the age of 18 YES/NO
Adults in prison/remanded in custody/on bail
YES/NO
If yes, please outline the participant group
RC 03 Combined Research Proposal and Ethics Form v3 Jul 20

Data Security
10. Can you guarantee the full security and confidentiality of data collected?
YES/NO
If no, please outline reasons
**Please note that any electronic data should be stored on Arden University’s one drive
(therefore students must use their Arden email address for data collection,
communication etc.)
11. Please outline how you will ensure anonymity and confidentiality of data
12. Will you be responsible for destroying the data after the research is complete?
YES/NO
If yes at what date will the data be destroyed?
If no, who will be responsible?
**Please note that data should be destroyed as soon as possible (when full data usage has
been completed) but no later than 3 years from data collection.
Informed Consent
13. Will all participants receive information as to why the research is being conducted
and what their participation will involve?
YES/NO
If no, please state reasons
14. Will all participants be asked to give informed consent before the study starts?
YES/NO
If no, please state reasons
15. Will all participants be told of the data being collected and how the data be used?
RC 03 Combined Research Proposal and Ethics Form v3 Jul 20

YES/NO
If no, please state reasons
16. Will all participants be told that they do not have to participate in the research?
YES/NO
If no, please state reasons
17. Does the study involve deception?
YES/NO
If yes, please provide detail
Risk of Harm
18. Is there any risk that the research may lead to physical/psychological harm or
disclosure of criminal activities/convictions?
YES/NO
If yes, please outline and explain what you will do to reduce risks
19. Is there any significant risk that participants may disclose the harming of others or
harming of themselves?
YES/NO
If yes, please provide details and actions you will take
Participant Recruitment
20. Are you proposing to recruit participants who are students or staff or Arden
University?
YES/NO
If yes, please provide details of any potential conflict of interest and how this will be
mitigated
21. Employees of organisations?
RC 03 Combined Research Proposal and Ethics Form v3 Jul 20

YES/NO
If yes, how will permission be gained from the organisation?
22. Students through educational institutions?
YES/NO
If yes, how will permission be gained from the institution?
23. Participants in residential care, social care, nursing homes
YES/NO
If yes, how will permission be gained from the organisation and individuals/carers?
24. Adults in prison, in custody, on remand
YES/NO
If yes, how will permission be gained from the organisation and individuals?
Online Research
25. Will any of your research involve online data collection?
YES/NO
(e.g. online surveys, Facebook, Linkedin. Twitter)
If yes, how will permission be obtained to collect data if necessary?
26. Will you be using a survey software (e.g. Gorilla or Microsoft Forms)?
YES/NO
If yes, please provide details
Participant Payment
27. Are payments/incentives being offered to participants?
RC 03 Combined Research Proposal and Ethics Form v3 Jul 20

YES/NO
If yes, please provide details
28. Will you tell participants that payment/incentives do not affect participants right to
withdraw their data?
YES/NO
RC 03 Combined Research Proposal and Ethics Form v3 Jul 20