UK Retail CSR: Responsibilities and Impact on Community & Environment

This project investigates the corporate social responsibilities (CSR) of organizations within the UK retail sector and their subsequent influence on the community and the environment. The research employs a qualitative approach, utilizing secondary data analysis to enhance theoretical understanding of CSR practices. Key objectives include identifying CSR activities in the UK retail sector, determining associated benefits, assessing contributions to the environment and community, analyzing effective CSR policies and models, examining challenges faced during CSR implementation, and recommending strategies for improved CSR efficiency and community impact. The study reviews existing literature to evaluate the research topic, providing a comprehensive overview of CSR's role and impact within the UK retail landscape.

1 Gathering data or information from human participants (e.g. via questionnaire /
interview/survey/experiment/ social media/ VR)? NO
2 Collecting personal data, i.e. name, email, home address, computer IP address, phone
number etc? NO
3 Analysis of secondary data NOT in the public domain (e.g. archive material that require
organisational membership)? NO
4 The collection or use of information which is ‘commercially sensitive’? NO
5 Financial inducements other than expenses and compensation for time? NO
6 Gathering data/information at a physical location external to Northumbria University
campuses, franchised locations, and not your normal place of work? NO
7 Collection of samples such as plants, soils etc, that might disturb the environment or
archaeological remains? NO
8 Research involving animals or materials derived from animals? NO
9 Anything else which means that the research poses greater than minimal ethical risk?
NO
10 Discussion of highly sensitive topics, including, but not exclusively: bereavement; sexual
behaviour, drug use; abuse or exploitation; trauma; pornography; bullying? NO
11 Potentially vulnerable people or groups, for example children and young people (under
18s), or those who might lack capacity to consent, for example, a learning disability, dementia,
or cognitive impairment? This may require external review by the Health Research Authority.
NO
12 Intrusive interventions: the use of drugs or other substances (e.g. food, drink, placebos or
drugs); procedures involving physical distress (e.g. prolonged or repetitive testing, or ionising
radiation); emotional distress (e.g. stres or anxiety). This may require external review by the
Health Research Authority. NO
13 Funding from a source that may be controversial (e.g. due to the nature of the funder, or a
conflict of interest)? NO

14 Covert methods of investigation or deception? NO
15 International partners, or research undertaken outside of the UK where there may be
issues of local practice an political sensitivities? (In these instances it will be necessary to act in
accordance with the legal and ethics revie requirements in the countries included in the research
and demonstrate awareness of these.) NO
16 Access to records of personal or sensitive confidential information, including genetic or
other biological information concerning identifiable individuals? NO
17 Individuals or groups where permission of a gatekeeper is normally required for initial or
continued access to participants (e.g. NGOs, community leaders)? NO
18 Recruitment or collection of data from patients, staff or volunteers via the NHS, or social
care settings (e.g., NO
home, or residential care). This may require external review by the Health Research Authority.
19 The collection of bodily tissue e.g. blood, saliva, urine samples from living or deceased
persons. This may require external review or additional licenses. NO
20 A health‐related study or clinical trial of an investigational medicinal product or a
medical device. This may requir external review by the Health Research Authority. NO
21 Direct testing on animals or materials derived from animals. This may require external
review or additional licenses NO
22 Work that involves direct observation of, or participation in, activities during which it is
anticipated that illegal activity, or regulatory breach is likely to occur (e.g. hunting, drug dealing,
accessing the dark web, hacking)? NO
23 Access to or collection of data, information, materials (e.g. magazines, publications,
websites, and social media) relating to extremism, radicalisation or terrorism (including extreme
or terror groups). This may require external review. NO
24 Funding/ sponsorship from, or the involvement of, the UK Ministry of Defence, Military
(UK and International), an or, EU Security funding call. This may require external review.
NO
25 The collection of data/information that might be confidential or classified (e.g. protected
by the Official Secrets Act)? NO

26 Face to face research with human participants during the Covid‐19 pandemic? NO
27 The prison service, offenders or participants on probation. This may require external
review. NO
28 Other considerations that mean that this research should be treated as ‘high risk’? NO
G1: General Aims and Research Design
(Mandatory)
Title
Title of your research project
CSR Responsibilities of Organizations in
the UK and their Influence on the
Community and Environment
Outline General Aims and Research Objectives
State your research aims/questions (maximum 500 words). This should provide the theoretical
context within which the work is placed, and should include an evidence‐based background,
justification for the research, clearly stated hypotheses (if appropriate) and creative enquiry.
The aim of this research is to identify the efficacy of the demands and state of corporate
social responsibilities (CSR) activities in a company on their community and the
environment. A study in context to UK retail sector.
The objectives which have been set in order to fulfil the aim of this research is –
 To identify the activities and responsibilities which retail sector have to perform in
context to UK retail sector.
 To determine the different benefits which UK retail sector can avail with respect to
practicing CSR activities.
 To assess the contributions of the UK retail sector towards environment and community
by CSR practices
 To analyse the policies and methods and the different CSR models which are helpful to
UK retail sector to influence the community with its CSR policies
 To examine the different challenges faced while carrying out the CSR activities and its
effect over performance of company.
 To recommend strategies to the UK companies for the betterment of the efficiency of
their CSR activities in relation to their increased contribution to the community and the
environment

G2: Research Activities (Mandatory)
Please give a detailed description of your research activities
Please provide a description of the study design, methodology (e.g. quantitative, qualitative, practice
based), the sampling strategy, methods of data collection (e.g. survey, interview, experiment,
observation, participatory), and analysis. Do sensitive topics such as trauma, bereavement, drug use,
child abuse, pornography, extremism or radicalisation inform the research? If so have these been fully
addressed?
The current research is qualitative and it includes the use of secondary analysis. This is
being undertaken in order to increase the theoretical knowledge relating to the CSR
practices and it’s the effect over the company. the study involved the use of different
reviews of literature relating to research topic in order to evaluate the research topic.