H&M Research: Ethics Approval for HR's Role in Business Performance

This is a student's completed research ethics approval form for a project investigating the role of human resources in improving business performance and productivity at H&M. The form details the research methods employed, including interviews, questionnaires, data analysis, observations, case studies, and surveys. It addresses ethical considerations related to participant recruitment, informed consent, data storage and security in compliance with the Data Protection Act (2018). The form also explores potential ethical concerns such as informed consent, vulnerable participants, sensitive topics, risks to participants and researchers, confidentiality, data security, and dissemination of findings.

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 identify the role of human resource in improving business performance and
productivity". A Study on H&M
Student name: ...................................................................................
Student ID number: ...................................................................................
Programme: ...................................................................................
College: ...................................................................................
Intended research start date: .01/01/2020............................................
Intended research end date: ............20/04/2020.................................
Section 2: Project Summary
Please select all research methods that you plan to use as part of your project:
Interviews:  Questionnaires:  Observations:  Use of Personal Records: 
• Data Analysis:  Case Study:  Survey:  Narrative Enquiry: 
• Other (please specify):
....................................................................................................................................................................
Section 3: Participants
Please answer the following questions, giving full details where necessary.

Will your research involve human participants? Adults: 
How will participants be recruited (identified and approached)?
Through random sampling method, 25 human resource managers of an organisation will be
recruited.
Describe the processes you will use to inform participants about what you are doing:
By considering e-mail or questionnaire
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?
By using questionnaire investigator could easily gather consent from participant which will
be written in the form.
Studies involving questionnaires / interviews: Will participants be given the option of omitting
questions they 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 Data Protection Act
(2018) Yes:  No: 
Who will have access to the data and personal information?
Research
During the research: Where will the data be stored?
Research
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: 
If yes, please provide further details:
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.