Critical Reflections on Ethical Issues: BM631 Research Methods

This report critically reflects on the ethical considerations applied to a research proposal, emphasizing the importance of research ethics in promoting the aims of study and expanding knowledge. It covers the vital aspects of ensuring that participants are not subjected to harm and that the final outcome of the study accurately portrays ethical considerations. The reflection discusses the consent process, data confidentiality, scientific integrity, and respect for participants' dignity and rights within the context of a study on the impact of leadership on employee performance at Waitrose. It details the measures taken to ensure authentic data collection through primary and secondary methods, the protection of participants' privacy, and the avoidance of potential harm. The report concludes that adhering to research ethics is crucial for supporting social and moral values, fostering critical thinking, and contributing to the common good, while also providing benefits to researchers and the wider community. The document is available on Desklib, a platform offering a wealth of study resources for students.

CW2 CRITICAL
REFLECTIONS OF
ETHICAL ISSUES

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
Reflective report on the Ethical Consideration of the research proposal....................................1
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................3
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................4

INTRODUCTION
Ethical issues in context of research are set of ethics that regularise the ways in which
scientific and research that has been performed at research institution for instance universities
and the ways in which they circulate (Lyubovnikova and et.al., 2017). This report will highlight
the reflection of scholar about the ethical considerations that has been followed by them during
the study.
MAIN BODY
Reflective report on the Ethical Consideration of the research proposal
It is the vital part of any research as the people who are the active participants while
completing the research should never subjected to harm in any way. The ethical ways to portray
the final outcome of the study will illustrate the real meaning of ethical considerations. In order
to avoid such issues I have take necessary steps that are highly required within this. While
conducting my research on the topic Impact of leadership on employee performance and
productivity within the workplace of Waitrose company, I will have to meet numerous
employees in order to collect exact information in order to complete my research in most
appropriate manner. In order to justify the aspect of ethical consideration in terms of consent of
the participants, I will make sure that consent form has been filled by randomly selected
employees of the organisation. This in turn shows the willing participation and interest of the
candidates in order to give their contribution towards the research through the survey
methodology. The form will include the terms and conditions column which describes the
confidentiality of data and the fair treatment will be given to each elements in complete manner
to avoid any kind of breach of data activity (Patrício, Gustafsson and Fisk, 2018). For the
purpose of the study, information forms will also be collected but I will ensure that the personal
information of candidates will never get utilised or published anywhere in the research as many
necessary and confidential informations such as address, mobile number , etc. will be collected
during the study.
In context of scientific integrity and fulfil this element, I will collect the data through
primary as well as secondary method of data collection. Both types of data collection method
will highly able to help me while conducting this investigation. For primary research, I will
collect the data from selected employees of Waitrose organization with the help of questionnaire
1

along with their consent to fill that forms in corrective manner. Because ultimately my main
purpose is to collect the exact and right detail about the investigation. Questionnaire will help
me to gather correct data about the topic along with collection of first hand data from large
sample size. This will ensure the authenticity of the collected data. Along with this the
secondary data collection of another kind of method that I will utilise within my project. In order
to improve the credibility of this study, I will collect the data from the sources which are
published after 2017 (Smyth and Vanclay, 2017). Effectual research articles will be considered
to collect the correct information in a reliable manner to complete the investigation which will
help me to gather proper results after completion of the study. Moreover, copyright content sites
will be selected which shows the reliability concept about the project.
Respect for people's dignity and rights along with integrity in relationships is highly
important while conducting any research. In order to fulfil such concepts during my project, I
will ensure the keep respecting the candidates privacy and confidentiality. I will become non-
judgemental of the intrinsic value of the client irrespective of their age, behaviour, gender,
culture, religion or race. I will completely respect the knowledge, information, skills and
abilities of individual employees and other professionals that will help me in collecting data in
order to receive final outcome about the whole study. I will a lot professional codes to each one
of the candidate that has been utilised to collect information in order to save their personal
information to sustain the confidentiality in appropriately. However, the candidates needs to be
trusted along with their feedback regarding the information as the whole study is dependent
ultimately upon the collected outcome (Behrendt, Matz and Göritz, 2017). At the end of the
final research, I will ensure that it will share various benefits for all or most of the members
along with researchers within the community to get benefits from my investigation in efficient
manner. It will definitely contributes towards the requirement to the common good concept.
There are numerous ways in which participants can be harmed such as physical harm,
psychological harm, emotional harm, embarrassment and so on. I will make sure that I will
identify potential harm and determine their outcomes in primary terms. I will involve the
supervisor to avoid such kind of risks and ensures that processes were in place effectively to
address the harm in this project. Materials will be distributed to all the respondents along with
the information sheet, so that those who need assistance can seek it. In such manner, I will be
able to assist any harmful situation in preliminary manner. The final findings of this research
2

will help me to foster my critical thinking and analytical skills through detailed learning. It will
help to define career, academic as well as personal interests. It will definitely expand my
knowledge and understanding related to the impacts of leadership on employee performance and
productivity in workplace of Waitrose (Shackleton and et.al., 2019). The findings will provide
benefits to various researchers or other students in order to provide them effective and
appropriate information to go through while their own research of particular topics.
CONCLUSION
From the above study it has been concluded that research ethics are highly important for
various reasons that can never be avoided in any research. This concept will help to promote the
aims of study along with expansion of knowledge. It helps in order to support the values that are
required for collective work which is dignity and integrity. Thus, this study will completely
support the social and moral values which includes the generality of doing no harm to others or
the participants.
3

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Behrendt, P., Matz, S. and Göritz, A.S., 2017. An integrative model of leadership behavior. The
leadership quarterly, 28(1). pp.229-244.
Lyubovnikova, J., and et.al., 2017. How authentic leadership influences team performance: The
mediating role of team reflexivity. Journal of business Ethics, 141(1). pp.59-70.
Patrício, L., Gustafsson, A. and Fisk, R., 2018. Upframing service design and innovation for
research impact.
Shackleton, R.T., and et.al., 2019. Explaining people's perceptions of invasive alien species: a
conceptual framework. Journal of Environmental Management, 229. pp.10-26.
Smyth, E. and Vanclay, F., 2017. The Social Framework for Projects: a conceptual but practical
model to assist in assessing, planning and managing the social impacts of
projects. Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal, 35(1). pp.65-80.
4