Research Proposal: Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion at Next plc

This research proposal aims to investigate the significance of equality and diversity in the workplace, with a specific focus on gender equality in leadership and management within Next plc. The proposal outlines research questions to explore the needs and importance of managing equality, the negative impacts of gender inequality, and strategies for Next plc to foster a positive and efficient workplace through gender equality. It details the reasons for choosing the research topic, key literature sources supporting the research, planned activities and timescales, the research approach and methodologies (positivism research philosophy with qualitative and quantitative methods), and ethical considerations, including data storage, participant consent, and potential risks. The proposal also includes research ethics approval form to ensure the research is conducted ethically. Desklib provides access to similar research proposals and solved assignments for students.

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)
Title: Equality and Diversity in the workplace.
Aim: To study the significance of Gender Equality in Leadership and Management for success of an
organisation. A case study on Next plc.
Research Questions:
 What are the possible needs and importance of managing equality for an organization?
 What are the main negative impacts that are lead by Gender inequality in context of an organisation?
 How Next plc can ensure creation and maintenance of gender equality in its leadership and
management in order to facilitates a more positive and efficient workplace?
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 study the significance of managing equality for an organisation.
 To determine various issues that an organisation face due to gender inequality.
 To determine various strategies that could be adopt by Next plc to maintain gender equality in
leadership and management.

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):
One of the main reason behind choosing this topic for study is to identify the importance of managing equality for an organisation to
achieve success. Another reason is to improve my research skills and knowledge in this field.
Section Three: Literature sources searched
Use of key literature sources to support your research question, objective or hypothesis:
Neugebauer, J., 2014. Equality and diversity in the workplace. Strategic Human Resource Management: An
International Perspective, p.306.
Celikdemir, D.Z. and Katrinli, A., 2020. Efficient Diversity Management for Workplace Well-Being. The Palgrave
Handbook of Workplace Well-Being, pp.1-22.
Fine, C., Sojo, V. and Lawford‐Smith, H., 2020. Why does workplace gender diversity matter? Justice, organizational
benefits, and policy. Social Issues and Policy Review.
Chang, E.H. and Milkman, K.L., 2020. Improving decisions that affect gender equality in the workplace. Organizational
Dynamics. 49(1). p.100709.
Coron, C., 2020. What does “gender equality” mean? Social representations of gender equality in the workplace among
French workers. HAL.

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):
Aims and objective
Research methodology
Literature review
Data collection
Data analysis
Conclusion and recommendations
Final submission
How long this
will take:
2 days
5 days
7 days
10 days
13 days
8 days
3 days

Milestone one: _________________
Target date (set by tutor): ____________________
Milestone two: _______________________
Target date (set by tutor): ______________________
Gantt Chart

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:
This section of research highlight all tools and techniques used to complete the research. Mainly there are two
philosophy of research are there one is positivism and other one is interpretivism. Positivism research
philosophy is used in present research. Further, qualitative and quantitative are the methods of research and in
present research both methods are used in order to draw better conclusion about the topic. A sample of 30
respondents is selected for present research with help of random sampling method.
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

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: Equality and Diversity in the workplace.
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
 Others (Please specify) :
Section 3: Participants
Please answer the following questions, giving full details where necessary.
Will your research involve human participants? Yes
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)?
Approached

Describe the processes you will use to inform participants about what you are doing:`
With help of social media platforms
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?
Through signing written consent form.
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 the Data Protection Act
(1998)
Yes No
Who will have access to the data and personal information?
Researcher

During the research:
Where will the data be stored?
Stored in laptops
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:
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 your supervisor and also attach to the Research Proposal
when submitting to Turnitin.