Ethical Clearance: Interior Design Impact on Customer Satisfaction

This document presents a student's request for ethical clearance for a research study focusing on the impact of interior design on customer satisfaction at the Intercontinental Hotel, London. The research aims to identify how interior design contributes to customer satisfaction, determine potential challenges in implementing interior design strategies, and analyze potential design strategies to enhance customer satisfaction. The study employs a positivism research philosophy and a deductive research approach, utilizing surveys and quantitative research methods. Ethical considerations, including data privacy and authenticity, are addressed through adherence to the BERA code of ethics and the Data Protection Act. The study sample consists of 30 hotel employees selected through random sampling, and a questionnaire with a minimum of 10 questions will be used for data collection. The document includes a detailed outline of the study design, research methods, and ethical considerations.

APPENDIX 2: example of request for ethical clearance form
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.
Programme name and
code
BA(HONS) INTERNATIONAL HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT
Title of proposed research study
An analysis of ways the interior design influences the customer satisfaction in the Intercontinental
hotel, London.
Supervisor Comments
Does the overall study have low, moderate or high Low ❑ Moderate ❑ High ❑
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risk in terms of ethical implications?
1. What is the aim of your study? What are the objectives for your study?
The aim of the research is to analyse how the interior design of the hotel contributes to the
customer satisfaction at the London Intercontinental hotel.
At least three objectives.
 To identify the way in which interior design of the hotel contributes to the customer
satisfaction at the London Intercontinental hotel
 To determine challenges that the London Intercontinental hotel can face during the process
of implementing interior design for customer satisfaction.
 To analyse the potential interior design strategies the London Intercontinental hotel can
adopt to enhance overall satisfaction of customers.
Research Questions
 What are the ways in which interior design of the hotel contributes to the customer
satisfaction at the London Intercontinental hotel?
 What are the challenges that the London Intercontinental hotel can face during the process
of implementing interior design for customer satisfaction?
 What are the potential interior design strategies the London Intercontinental hotel can
adopt to enhance overall satisfaction of customers?
2. Explain the rationale for this study (refer to relevant research literature in your response).
Present research study is rational as in hospitality industrial segment interior designing plays
important role which helps in influencing consumer mindset their buying decision. This research is
significantly rational as provides the manner in which the hotel in hospitality industrial sector can
overcome the challenges that they are facing in the process of implementing interior design for
consumer satisfaction (Song, Mody and Dogru, 2020). Present report research also identifies the
potential interior design strategies that intercontinental hotel and other hotels in same industry can
adopt in order to enhance overall satisfaction. With the help of this research organization in this
industry can have access of strategies that they can implement which helps in enhancing overall
level of consumer satisfaction. In addition to this present research is also rational as it helps in
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enhancing knowledge of researcher in academics viewpoint and also benefit them to conduct
research in future in a well defined and effective manner.
Reference list:
Song, S., Suess, C., Mody, M.A. and Dogru, T., 2020. Comparing the influence of substantive and
communicative servicescape on healthcare traveler emotions: The moderating effect of
accommodation type and interior design style. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality
Management.
Huang, H.T., Chen, C.P. and Tsaih, S.J., 2019, October. Preferred criteria in winning budget hotel
interior design projects in China. In IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and
Engineering (Vol. 652, No. 1, p. 012007). IOP Publishing.
Karathanasis, A., 2022. Contribution of the elevator to the image of a hotel unit.
2. Provide an outline of study design and methods.
This sections forms a vital part of every research work which provide vital information about the
selection and choice of research method from a set of various approaches and method of research
to conduct an investigation and research work in a more viable and effective manner (Willmott,
2020). With respect to current investigation, Saunders Research Onion has been used to ensure
proper selection of and choice of a research method along with proper justification for there use.
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Figure 1: Research Onion, 2020.
Research Philosophy:
Research methodology plays important role for end research as a provide vital information
associated to the choice and selection of research method in order to fulfill present research aims
and objective researcher will undertake advantage of positivism research philosophy (Mukherjee,
2019). The primary reason behind taking advantage of this method is not it is a process which
allows structure to conduct in depth analysis of the result and provide support in more practical and
scientific manner.
Research Approach:
In terms with research approach investigator will undertake advantage of deductive research
approach. The primary reason behind taking advantage of this method is that it helps to effectively
explain casual relationship between variables and also alow in measuring concepts in quantitative
manner.
Research Strategy:
In addition to this in terms with research strategy investigator will undertake advantage of survey.
The primary reason behind taking advantage of their respective method is that with the help of this
researcher have tendency to have higher response rate and further allow them to conduct research
in let’s expensive manner (Nayak and Singh, 2021). This research strategy is also less time
consuming which will benefit investigators to fulfill overall research objectives in effective
manner.
Research Method Choice:
In context with research method choice investigator will and take advantage of quantitative
research method. Primary reason behind taking advantage of this method is that it will allow
researcher to remove biasness from research and also allow them to have information and data
from respondents with the help of selecting a sample size. In this researcher will analyse the
collected facts and figures with the help of charts and tables.
Time horizon
In context with time horizon researcher undertake advantage of cross sectional time reason. The
primary reason behind taking use of this method is that with the help of this investigator can fulfill
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overall research goals in a well define and effective manner (Pandey and Pandey, 2021). In
addition to this with the help of taking advantage this time horizon method researcher have
tendency to collect data at a single point in time and further accumulate information from larger
pool of subject. With the help of taking advantage of this method researcher have ability to fulfill
overall aims and objectives in appropriate manner.
Ethics:
In order to fulfill resorts engine objectives while ordering to ethical consideration investigator will
focus a plant maintaining privacy and authenticity of data and information. Along with this to
eliminate any form of ethical issue investigator undertake news of BERA code of ethics. The main
reason behind taking user of this method is that it will help investigator to maintain authenticity to
conduct present research. In addition to this researcher will also undertake use of Data Protection
Act in order to maintain privacy as well as authenticity of data.
Research approach Research methods Research tools
Deductive Quantitative Questionnaire. min 10
questions
Research Philosophy Research methods Research tools
Positivism research
philosophy.
Quantitative Questionnaire. min 10
questions
Reference list:
Pandey, P. and Pandey, M.M., 2021. Research methodology tools and techniques. Bridge Center.
Nayak, J.K. and Singh, P., 2021. Fundamentals of research methodology problems and prospects.
SSDN Publishers & Distributors.
Mukherjee, S.P., 2019. A guide to research methodology: An overview of research problems, tasks
and methods. CRC Press.
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Willmott, H., 2020. On research methodology. The Journal of Organization and Discourse, 1(1),
pp.1-4.
4. Please provide a detailed description of the study sample, covering selection, sample profile,
recruitment and if appropriate, inclusion and exclusion criteria.
DQQ: Probability sampling (e.g. Random sampling, systematic sampling)
In terms with sampling method it is a statistical process which allow it take research in an
effective manner. In terms with present research investigator will it take use of random sampling
size method.. In this investigator will select 30 respondents those who will be employees of the
company. The primary reason behind taking advantage of this method is that it will benefit
researcher to conduct research in effective manner (Babii, A., 2020). It also researcher to provide
equal chances to all the participants. With the help of taking use of this method investigator is
aiming towards to conduct research in effective manner.
IQI: Non-probability sampling (e.g. snowball sampling, convenience sampling, judgment sampling)
Reference list:
Babii, A., 2020. Important aspects of the experimental research methodology. Вісник
Тернопільського національного технічного університету, 97(1), pp.77-87
5. Are payments or rewards/incentives going to be made to the participants? Yes ◻ No ◻
If so, please give details below.
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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: N/A
g. Observation research
h. Giving advice
i. Research undertaken in public places
j. Data protection
k. Animal Rights: N/A
l. Environmental protection: N/A
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 study materials will you use? (Please give initial details here of validated scales, bespoke
questionnaires, interview schedules, focus group schedules etc).
Questionnaires
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