Ethical Considerations in Research Proposal - BM631 Research Methods

This report critically reflects on the ethical considerations within a research proposal focused on the role of employee motivation in increasing the profitability of Unilever. It outlines the aim and objectives of the research, detailing the methodology employed, including quantitative methods, a deductive approach, and a positivism paradigm with 30 participants. The report emphasizes key ethical considerations such as respecting autonomy, privacy, and dignity through valid consent and confidentiality, ensuring scientific integrity by adhering to scientific methods, promoting social responsibility by protecting participant sentiments and contributing to the common good, and maximizing benefits while minimizing harm through data protection measures. The research aims to provide insights generalizable to other companies, fostering economic development through improved employee motivation strategies.

Research methods

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
Aim and objectives......................................................................................................................3
Methodology...............................................................................................................................3
Ethical consideration...................................................................................................................3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6

INTRODUCTION
Research methods are being defined as the ways or procedure which will be used in order
to complete the research successfully. For the research to be successful it is necessary that the
proper research methods are being selected in order to attain the objectives of the study. the
current report will outline the ethical consideration relating to the research proposal on role of
employee motivation in increasing profitability of company.
Aim and objectives
The aim of the study was to determine the role of employee motivation for increasing the
organizational profitability with respect to Unilever.
Further the objectives included within the study relates to the development of knowledge
relating to meaning of employee’s motivation. Another objective of the study was to analyse the
role of motivation scheme for earning good amount of profits. Along with this another objective
of the study was to evaluate the different motivation schemes which are being used by managers
of company for retention of the employees for longer period of time.
Methodology
With respect to the methodology being used by the researcher within the proposal is the
use of quantitative methods for attaining the objectives of the study. the reason for selecting the
quantitative method of research is that it will assist them in attaining the objectives in more
accurate and precise manner. Along with this, the approach being selected is the deductive and
paradigm used is positivism. These have been selected for the reason that it assists in making the
quantitative research more good and reliable. The participant selected for the study is 30
respondents which includes worker of Unilever and data is gathered with help of questionnaire
and is supported by secondary sources.
Ethical consideration
Respect for autonomy, privacy and dignity of individual and communities
With respect to the valid consent the use of participant consent form will be used. The
reason underlying this fact is that in case the consent is not taking from the participant then the
research will not be ethical (Everts and et.al., 2021). This is particularly because of the reason
that in case participant share their information and they have not assented that their personal
information must be used in the research till then the researcher cannot include that data in the

study. with respect to the current research on employee motivation, the researcher has made the
signed consent from the participant and then only they will be including the information within
the research.
Scientific integrity
Further with respect to the scientific integrity, the research is successfully designed. The
reason underlying this fact is that for the study to succeed it is very important for the researcher
that all the working is based on scientific basis (Olaniran and Baruwa, 2020). This is particularly
because of the reason that in case the working will not be having any logical sequence then the
research will not work in better way and aim and objective will not be attained. But in case of
completion of study on analysing role of motivation in increasing profitability the scientific
methods are being followed. That is the reason for selecting the quantitative methods for the
completion of the study. Thus, the use and compliance with the scientific integrity will be
providing better and good result for the successful completion of the study in better and effective
manner.
Social responsibility
This present research also supports the integrity and dignity of the people being involved
within the completion of the study. while collecting the primary data, the sentiments and emotion
of no person is being harmed. Also, proper communication is being conducted by the respondent
or any other person with whom the working is being ensured or any data is being gathered. The
current research also contributes to the common good as the outcome of the present research can
also be generalised to other competitors of Unilever as well. the reason pertaining to the fact is
that the strategies which are being used by Unilever can also be used by other competitor’s like
ITC, P&G and others. Thus, this will result in better working because now the companies will be
having a base that how Unilever is improving their working (Facca and et.al., 2020). Thus, as a
result of this, the working capability of the company will improve. Further as a result of this,
there will be economic development when all the companies will be working in better and
effective manner.
Maximising the benefits and minimising the harm
For the minimisation of risk relating to data and its misuse certain steps will be
undertaken in order to protect the data. This is necessary pertaining to the reason that in case the
data will not be kept confidential and safe then it can be used in negative manner and can affect

the successful completion of the research. in addition to this, for minimising the harm of data
being lost or misused, the data will be stored and laptop and access will not be given to any of
the person who is not related to the research. In order to maximise the benefits from the research,
the research outcome will be communicated to other people as well. the reason underlying this
fact is that sharing the information will lead to communicating the working in better manner
(Leikas and Kulju, 2018). Hence, as a result of this, the working of other companies will also
improve as they will also enhance their knowledge relating to the use of employee motivation in
improving the profitability of the company. Hence, as a result of this, the working of the
companies will be improved and they will be in position to work in better and effective manner.
CONCLUSION
The above report concluded that the use of research methods in successfully completing
the study. With the discussion it is clear that the use of proper research is necessary in order to
improve the successful completion of the study. the study discussed that methods used in
proposal are undertaken in proper manner and ethical consideration is being considered while
undertaking the research in proper manner.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Everts, R., and et.al., 2021. Fear and discomfort of children and adolescents during MRI: ethical
consideration on research MRIs in children. Pediatric research, pp.1-4.
Facca, D., and et.al., 2020. Exploring the ethical issues in research using digital data collection
strategies with minors: A scoping review. Plos one. 15(8). p.e0237875.
Leikas, J. and Kulju, M., 2018. Ethical consideration of home monitoring technology: A
qualitative focus group study. Gerontechnology. 17(1). pp.38-47.
Olaniran, S. O. and Baruwa, I. B., 2020. Ethical considerations in adult and community
education research in Nigeria: issues and perspectives. International Journal for
Educational Integrity. 16(1). pp.1-10.