Arden University: Dissertation Proposal and Ethics Form Submission

This document presents a comprehensive dissertation proposal and ethics form designed for research projects, particularly within the context of Arden University. It encompasses crucial sections such as the research proposal, ethical considerations, and data management plans. The form meticulously outlines the project's aims, objectives, research questions, and proposed methodology, including data selection, collection, and analytical processes. It also addresses project management, timelines, and potential outputs. The ethics section is extensive, covering various aspects of ethical research, including participant recruitment, informed consent, data security, and risk assessment. The document distinguishes between primary and secondary research, providing specific guidelines and requirements for each. Detailed questions address sensitive data handling, participant payment, and potential risks. The form emphasizes adherence to the University's Ethics code of Practice and requires approvals from the supervisor, module leader, and, if applicable, the employer. The document serves as a thorough guide for students undertaking research, ensuring ethical and methodological rigor.

Dissertation Proposal Form
Student Name Supervisor
Name
Student
Number
Course
Project title:
Start and end
dates of
research:
Proposed activity – aims, objectives, research question(s), and state
how it is novel
Methodology – rationale, data selection and collection, recruitment,
participant demographics, analytical process
References
Project management
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Table: Project timeline and key outputs
Month Activity
Supervision Meetings
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.)
Planned outputs/publications/research
datasets/impact/dissemination
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)
………………………………………………….
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ETHICS REVIEW PROCESS STUDENT
ETHICS REVIEW PROCESS STAFF
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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 Arden University 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.
Date submitted
Course being studied
Module Title
Student name and student number
Supervisor name
Project Title
This should be clear and brief.
Project Summary
A brief summary of the project, including the context and rationale.
Research Method
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Explain the research method you will use and the rationale for your choices
(e.g. research methods - online survey, observation, interviews, data selection and
collection - online forums, social media sites, face to face – and name them e.g. LinkedIn)
What are the planned or desired outcomes of the research?
Outline what you expect to achieve from the research (outline your research outcomes)
(e.g. testing a new concept, develop an intervention)
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)
YES/NO
If yes, please state
2. If yes, have you read the relevant professional code of ethics and conducts?
YES/NO
3. Are you sourcing secondary data? (e.g. Information from web sites, journal articles,
archives)
YES/NO
If yes, please provide details
For secondary analysis there are using the information form different websites and
journal articles to find out research gaps.
(THIS IS THE END OF THE FORM TO BE COMPLETED
IF YOU ARE UNDERTAKING SECONDARY RESEARCH)
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(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.
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
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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
Data Security
10. Can you guarantee the full security and confidentiality of data collected?
YES/NO
If no, please outline reasons
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**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
the proper information and ethical standard will be followed up.
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?
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
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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?
YES/NO
If yes, how will permission be gained from the organisation?
22. Students through educational institutions?
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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?
YES/NO
If yes, please provide details
28. Will you tell participants that payment/incentives do not affect participants right to
withdraw their data?
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YES/NO
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