Ethics Approval for Research: Employee Motivation in UK Retail Sector

This document is a research ethics approval form submitted by a student for a study investigating the influence of reward systems on employee motivation within the UK retail sector, specifically focusing on Sainsbury's employees. The form details the research methods, including questionnaires, and outlines the participant recruitment process using purposive sampling. It addresses ethical considerations, such as informed consent, participant anonymity, and data storage compliant with the Data Protection Act 1998. The student confirms adherence to the institution's Research and Ethics Policy and discusses ethical issues with their unit tutor. The study involves collecting data through questionnaires, ensuring participant confidentiality, and storing data securely. The form covers aspects of data storage, access, and potential ethical concerns, demonstrating the student's awareness of potential risks and commitment to ethical research practices.

Research Ethics Approval Form
All students conducting research activity that involves human participants or the use
of data collected from 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: To assess the influence of reward system on employee motivation in the context of
UK retail sector: A study on Sainsbury
Student name:
Student ID number:
Programme:
School / College:
Intended research start date:
Intended research end date:
Section 2: Project Summary
Please select all research methods that you plan to use as part of your project (Please tick):
• Interviews:
• Questionnaires: Survey will be conducted with the help of questionnaire contains both open and

close ended questions.
• Observations:
• Use of Personal Records:
• Data Analysis:
• Action Research:
• Focus Groups:
• Other (please specify):
Section 3: Participants
Please answer the following questions, giving full details where necessary.
Will your research involve human participants? Who are the participants? Tick all that apply:
Ages 12-16:
Young People aged 17–18:
Adults:
How will participants be recruited (identified and approached)?
With the help of purposive sampling technique 30 personnel of Sainsbury will be selected.
Describe the processes you will use to inform participants about what you are doing:
Consent form will be sent to the selected participants for taking approval. This in turn
informs them about the motive of research and other related aspects.
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?
Consent will be taken via concerned form
Studies involving questionnaires: Will participants be given the option of omitting questions they
do not wish to answer? Please tick:

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. Please tick:
Yes:
No:
Will you debrief participants at the end of their participation (i.e. give them a brief explanation of the
study)? Please tick:
Yes:
No:
Will participants be given information about the findings of your study? (This could be a brief
summary of your findings in general). Please tick:
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 only
During the research:

Where will the data be stored?
Data will be stored via protected software
Will mobile devices such as USB storage and laptops be used?
Yes:
No:
If yes, please provide further details:
For the preparation of graphs and presenting gathered data in a structured way laptop will
be used.
After the research:
Where will the data be stored?
Data will be stored through software
How long will the data and records be kept for and in what format?
As per the requirement data will be stored.
Will data be kept for use by other researchers?
Yes:
No:

If yes, please provide further details:
Outcome of the findings will be disclosed that other researchers can use for guidance.
However, responses given by the participants will not be revealed.
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 as a result 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.
• Risks 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 that this is a full description of the ethics issues that may
arise in the course of my research.
Name:
Date:
Please submit your completed form to Moodle