Research Project: Analysis of Equality and Diversity in the Workplace

This research project investigates equality and diversity in the workplace, focusing on gender discrimination at Marks & Spencer. The project outlines research methods, including cost considerations, access to information, and ethical issues. It employs frequency distribution analysis to analyze quantitative data collected through a questionnaire, exploring awareness of gender discrimination, causes, negative effects, and impact on performance. The findings reveal that unequal pay, limited promotion opportunities for women, and high employee turnover are significant concerns. The research also discusses the merits, limitations, and pitfalls of data collection and analysis approaches, concluding that eliminating gender discrimination is crucial for achieving competitive advantages. The project includes a questionnaire used for data collection and a detailed interpretation of the findings.

Research Project
(Equality and diversity in the
workplace)
1

Contents
Conduct research using appropriate methods for project that consider costs, access and ethical
issues............................................................................................................................................3
Apply appropriate analytical tools analyse research findings and data.......................................4
Discuss merits, limitations and pitfalls of approaches to data collection and analysis.............15
Communicate research outcomes in an appropriate manner for the intended audience............17
Reflect on the effectiveness of research methods applied for meeting objectives of the research
project........................................................................................................................................19
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................20
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................21
Appendix........................................................................................................................................24
Questionnaire.............................................................................................................................24
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Conduct research using appropriate methods for project that consider costs, access and ethical
issues
In order to conduct research in effective and systematic manner, there is requirement of
following some methods that are costs, access and ethical issues. These are important and useful
for researcher in carrying out this research over gender discrimination (Anjum and et. al., 2018).
These methods have been explained as below in detailed manner:
Costs: In order to do and complete current project, researcher will requires appropriate
amount of cost. Estimate budget for completing this project over existing topic, researcher will
need around £ 200. This amount will help investigator in executing each and every activity of
research project in effective manner. There are different resources where researcher needs to pay
amount of capital such as stationery, internet connection, selection of best research methods, and
access to secondary material (Attell, Brown and Treiber, 2017).
Access: In order to do research in appropriate manner, researcher requires using some
sources for primary as well as secondary methods. It is a role of investigator to keep
confidentiality of data that was collected by researcher from primary sources. Therefore,
researcher makes sure that collected data would be only accessed through researcher and other
authorised authority (Barthelemy, McCormick and Henderson, 2016).
Ethical issues: This is another main part that impact on researcher while conducting
research. There are some principles and values of research ethics that must be follow by
researcher by carrying out investigation over gender discrimination. These values or principles
are reducing the hazard of harm to participants, obtain informed consent from research
participants, protect confidentiality and anonymity, avoid following deceptive practices, provide
potential participants right to withdraw etc. These are main norms or principles of research ethics
3

that must be following within a research project. By following these principles, researcher can
get positive research outcomes and also draw a valid conclusion for current study (Chen, Li and
Lai, 2017).
Apply appropriate analytical tools analyse research findings and data.
Data analysis introduces to the effective and useful process for researcher in analysing of
information appropriately and systematically. Current study is based on quantitative research and
for analysing quantitative type of information about the gender discrimination and its impact in
working environment of M&S; frequency distribution analysis has been applied by investigator
as an analytical technique. In this method researcher require to made frequency table and then
distribute them in single table according to the research questions (Holland and Cortina, 2016).
This will help in analysing of quantitative information within limited time duration. Frequency
distribution table according to the research questions will be prepared as below:
Frequency distribution table
Q1) Are you aware about the impact of gender based discrimination at workplace
of Marks & Spencer Brent Cross Shopping Centre?
Frequency
a). Yes 40
b). No 10
Q2) According to you, what are the main causes of gender discrimination in the
workplace of M&S?
Frequency
a). Unequal pay 20
b). Female employees are promoted less often than male 16
c). Racism 14
Q3) What are the negative effects of gender based discrimination in the working Frequency
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environment of M&S?
a). High employee turnover 20
b). Damaged moral 14
c). Lost productivity 16
Q4) Does gender discrimination has negative impact over performance and
productivity of Marks & Spencer?
Frequency
a). Strongly Agree 25
b). Agree 15
c) Disagree 7
d). Strongly Disagree 3
Q5) According to you, high employee turnover is a main issue faced by M&S due
to gender discrimination at workplace?
Frequency
a). Yes 40
b). No 10
Q6) How gender discrimination influences the paying ratio of Marks & Spencer
Brent Cross Shopping Centre?
Frequency
a). Positive Influence 2
b). Negative influence 40
c). Neutral 8
Q7) As per your opinion, what ways must be require to follow by M&S for
promoting gender equality at workplace?
Frequency
a). Altering hiring practices to enhance diversity 20
b). Developing an open-mined environment 16
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c). Providing equal pay and opportunity to male and female employees 14
Q8) What ways may be require use by Marks & Spencer for reducing the issue
associated with gender discrimination at workplace environment?
Frequency
a). Provide training on unconscious bias or discrimination 15
b). Review salaries and standardize pay 10
c). Support women into more senior role 15
d). Have a clear policy on discrimination 10
Q9) Does eliminating gender discrimination at workplace helps M&S in
accomplishment of competitive advantages?
Frequency
a). Yes 40
b). No 10
Question 1: Awareness about the impact of gender based discrimination among mangers
Q1) Are you aware about the impact of gender based discrimination at workplace
of Marks & Spencer Brent Cross Shopping Centre?
Frequency
a). Yes 40
b). No 10
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Interpretation: It has been concluded that most of the respondents had aware regarding
the gender based discrimination and its impact at workplace of Marks & Spencer Brent Cross
Shopping Centre. They said about the gender discrimination, it is a situation in which an
individual treated unfairly because they are female or male, rather than according to their
capabilities or skills. Remaining 10 respondents not have any knowledge about the gender
discrimination and its bad effects in the working place of company.
Question 2: Main causes of gender discrimination
Q2) According to you, what are the main causes of gender discrimination in the
workplace of M&S?
Frequency
a). Unequal pay 20
b). Female employees are promoted less often than male 16
c). Racism 14
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Interpretation: There are various causes of gender discrimination at working place of
M&S. For this, 20 out of 50 mangers of M&S have idea as unequal pay is main causes because it
is based on capabilities or skills and male or female of employees. 16 respondents have opinion
as female employees are promoted less as compare to male employees is main reason that
increases discrimination in the workplace. Remaining 14 participants have view as racism is
main cause because it plays a main role in how female employee are treated as well as
compensated at working place of an organisation. The pay a female receives may vary relaying
on her ethnicity and race.
Question 3: Negative effects of gender based discrimination
Q3) What are the negative effects of gender based discrimination in the working
environment of M&S?
Frequency
a). High employee turnover 20
b). Damaged moral 14
c). Lost productivity 16
8

Interpretation: Gender discrimination at workplace has negative effects. For these 20 out
of 50 managers of M&S have opinion as discrimination on the basis of gender increase high
employee turnover within an organisation. 14 participants have view as it dammed moral of
employees that results in lack of productivity and performance towards business activities.
Remaining 16 respondents have view as it lost productivity level of employees that turn to
impact over growth and success of M&S at marketplace.
Question 4: Impact of gender discrimination over business’s performance and productivity
Q4) Does gender discrimination has negative impact over performance and
productivity of Marks & Spencer?
Frequency
a). Strongly Agree 25
b). Agree 15
c) Disagree 7
d). Strongly Disagree 3
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Interpretation: It is a true as gender based discrimination has bad or negative impact on
productivity and performance level of M&S. For this statement, 25 respondents were strongly
agreed, 15 were agreed, 7 were disagreed and remaining 3 respondents were strongly disagreed.
Question 5: High employee turnover is a main issue of gender discrimination
Q5) According to you, high employee turnover is a main issue faced by M&S due
to gender discrimination at workplace?
Frequency
a). Yes 40
b). No 10
10

Interpretation: From the above table, it has been determined that high employee turnover
is a biggest issue of gender based discrimination in the working place of M&S. 40 respondents
said and remaining 10 respondents not have any idea about the same. Therefore, majority said
yes it means high turnover of employees is biggest problem of discrimination at workplace of
company.
Question 6: Gender discrimination influences the paying ratio
Q6) How gender discrimination influences the paying ratio of Marks & Spencer
Brent Cross Shopping Centre?
Frequency
a). Positive Influence 2
b). Negative influence 40
c). Neutral 8
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Interpretation: This graph interpreted that gender discrimination in the workplace has
influence over paying ratio of Marks & Spencer. In this majority of participants have knowledge
as it negatively influence on business because it increase turnover rate of employees and also
reduce productivity level.
Question 7: Ways for promoting gender equality
Q7) As per your opinion, what ways must be require to follow by M&S for
promoting gender equality at workplace?
Frequency
a). Altering hiring practices to enhance diversity 20
b). Developing an open-mined environment 16
c). Providing equal pay and opportunity to male and female employees 14
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Interpretation: There are number of ways that may be require to follow by M&S for
promoting gender equality at their workplace. For this, 20 out of 50 mangers of M&S have idea
as altering of hiring practices is essential because it increase diversity that results in improved
innovation and creativity at workplace. 16 have knowledge as development of open-mined
environment is effective way for company in promoting of gender based equality in the working
place. This will help in increasing confidence level among employees that outputs in reduced
employee turnover rate. Remaining 14 respondents have idea as providing of equal pay and
equal opportunity to both male and female employees helps M&S to promote gender equality
and achieve competitive advantages easily.
Question 8: Ways for reducing the issue associated with gender discrimination
Q8) What ways may be require use by Marks & Spencer for reducing the issue
associated with gender discrimination at workplace environment?
Frequency
a). Provide training on unconscious bias or discrimination 15
b). Review salaries and standardize pay 10
c). Support women into more senior role 15
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d). Have a clear policy on discrimination 10
Interpretation: Due to gender discrimination at workplace, there are different issues
faced by company that were discussed in above mentioned questions. Above mentioned graph
and table helps in identification of ways that must be used for eliminating the issues associated
with gender discrimination at workplace. For this, 15 mangers have opinion as providence of
training on discrimination or unconscious bias is essential in reducing of discrimination because
it educates male and female employees about their performance and pay. 10 respondents have
idea as review of salaries and standardize pay is effective way because it reduces errors in paying
ratio. 15 have aware as supporting of female employees into more senior role is important way
because by getting such position, they feel motivated and less discriminated at workplace.
Remaining 10 respondents have knowledge as company must have a clear policy on
discrimination because it supports them in retention of employees at workplace for longer time.
Question 9: Eliminating gender discrimination helps in accomplishment of competitive
advantages
Q9) Does eliminating gender discrimination at workplace helps M&S in Frequency
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accomplishment of competitive advantages?
a). Yes 40
b). No 10
Interpretation: It is beneficial and essential for M&S to reduce gender discrimination at
workplace because it will help them in achievement of competitive benefits. For this statement
40 out of 50 respondents were agreed and remaining 10 don’t have any information about the
same.
Discuss merits, limitations and pitfalls of approaches to data collection and analysis.
Approaches to data collection: Data collection is the process that is used in collecting of
information about the study. There are usually two approaches of collecting data which are
qualitative and quantitative. These are effective approaches but for gathering information about
the impact of gender discrimination at working environment of company, quantitative approach
has been used because it not take more time as compare to qualitative approach (Lucifora and
Vigani, 2016). There are some merits limitations and pitfalls of data collection approaches:
Approaches of data collection Merits Limitations and pitfalls
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Qualitative approach This approach of data
collection encourages people
to expand their opinion about
the topic.
One of the main limitation and
pitfall of qualitative approach
is sample size can be a big
problem.
Quantitative approach Merit of quantitative approach
as it support investigator in
gathering of reliable and valid
data in limited time duration.
There is lack of human
perception about the topic
because it is based on closed-
ended questions.
Approaches to data analysis: It refers to the process for analysing data with the use of
inductive and deductive approach. These are two approaches of data analysis that helped
researcher in analysing of qualitative and quantitative information. For analysing quantitative
data gathered from questionnaire, deductive approach has been followed because it not consume
more time and helps in making of graphs for each question with the use of Ms-Excel (Melki and
Mallat, 2016). There are several merits pitfalls and limitations of data analysis approaches:
Approaches of data Analysis Merits Limitations and pitfalls
Inductive approach Merit of inductive approach of
data analysis as it support in
analysing of qualitative data
regarding the topic.
Inductive approach not helps
in analysing of numerical and
quantitative data about the
study.
Deductive approach Main advantage of using
deductive approach as it
Deductive approach only
based on numerical
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facilitates in analysing of
quantitative data within
minimum time.
information that sometimes
creates difficulties for
researcher while
understanding of respondents
perception.
Conclusion: From the above mentioned findings it has been concluded that quantitative
data collection method helped researcher in collecting of reliable and accurate information about
the gender discrimination. Along with this, deductive approach of data analysis supported
investigator in analysing of quantitative information by consuming less time period. Therefore,
quantitative and deductive approaches were helped researcher in gaining of valid outcomes and
completing full work effectively.
Communicate research outcomes in an appropriate manner for the intended audience.
In order to communicate research outcomes to the indented audience there are some
communication channels such as spoken, online report, presentation, written and many other.
There are certain methods used for collecting and analysing information such as quantitative
approach of data collection and deductive approach of data analysis. These methods helped in
gaining of valid outcomes and achieving of research objectives. Research outcomes meet the
research objectives which have been explained as below:
To develop basis understanding about the gender discrimination in context of an organisation.
Primary information is correlated with the secondary data gathered for literature review from
number of secondary sources such as books, magazines, articles etc. In these sources, authors
provided their opinion about the impact of gender discrimination in the workplace of an
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organisation. They said as gender discrimination has bad effects at workplace in terms of
reducing performance of employees that result in poor organisational productivity (Quick and
McFadyen, 2017).
To explore negative impact of gender based discrimination at workplace environment of
Marks & Spencer BRENT CROSS SHOPPING CENTRE
Primary data was related with the secondary information that was collected by researcher
for literature review section. For this, authors had view as gender discrimination has negative
impact on business because it lost employee’s productivity and increase high turnover rate of
employees (Rouse and et. al., 2016).
To determine the ways for eliminating issue of gender discrimination at workplace of Marks &
Spencer BRENT CROSS SHOPPING CENTRE.
Some primary data was correlated with the secondary data that was gathered from
secondary sources i.e. journals, books etc. for literature review. In literature review, authors had
view as review salaries and standardize pay and providence of training on unconscious bias or
discrimination is important ways. In this some information are not matched and providing
information about unrelated information to the intended audience, different number of
communication channels have been used which are oral and written presentation, e-mail etc.
These channels helped in getting of valid outcomes of the study (Watt, 2016).
Justifications and Recommendations
From the above mentioned research outcomes, it has been recommended different ways
for M&S in management of gender based discrimination at workplace. Some effective ways has
been explained as below:
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 Implementation of equality act 2010: M&S must implement equality act 2010 because it
will support them in protecting of all employees from any kind of discrimination that
occur at workplace. This will also help them in reduction of high employee turnover and
development of discrimination free environment.
 Conduct regular pay audit: This is another and important ways for M&S in management
of gender based discrimination at workplace. It has been determined that women within a
workforce plays an important role so, it is the role of company manger to reduce gender
pay gap and provide equal pay to the women. This will support them in accomplishment
of their long term goals and objectives easily.
Reflect on the effectiveness of research methods applied for meeting objectives of the research
project.
In order to meet research objectives, I was used different methods that are effective in
collecting and analysing of accurate and reliable data about the current study. For collection
quantitative information I used questionnaire that was effective because this helped me by
providing data about the gender discrimination in reliable and valid manner. This method was
also helpful for me when I need data in quantitative form and in limited time period. Along with
this, in order to analysis information about the impact of gender based discrimination I used
deductive approach because it is essential in analysing of quantitative information. For this
method, I take help of Ms-Excel. This software supported me in making of attractive and
accurate graphs of each questions. In addition, for collecting and analysing information about the
ways for eliminating the issues associated with gender discrimination I used primary source of
data collection i.e. questionnaire. This is effective method of data collection that is useful for
investigator in achieving of research aim and objectives easily.
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Conclusion
From the above mentioned information it has been concluded that most of the participants
have knowledge regarding the impact of gender based discrimination at workplace. There are
number of impacts of discrimination that occur due to gender such as high employee turnover,
loss of productivity, damaged moral etc. All these are main issues and in order to overcome these
issues different ways used by company such as providence of training, development of open-
mined atmospheres etc. Along with this, different number of ways also followed by company for
promoting equality at working place for example Altering hiring practices to enhance diversity
and providing equal pay and opportunity to male and female employees. These are effective for
company in eliminating of gender discrimination and promoting of gender equality at workplace.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Anjum, A., Ming, X., Siddiqi, A. F. and Rasool, S. F., 2018. An empirical study analyzing job
productivity in toxic workplace environments. International journal of environmental
research and public health. 15(5). p.1035.
Attell, B. K., Brown, K. K. and Treiber, L. A., 2017. Workplace bullying, perceived job
stressors, and psychological distress: Gender and race differences in the stress
process. Social science research. 65. pp.210-221.
Barthelemy, R. S., McCormick, M. and Henderson, C., 2016. Gender discrimination in physics
and astronomy: Graduate student experiences of sexism and gender
microaggressions. Physical Review Physics Education Research. 12(2). p.020119.
Chen, D., Li, X. and Lai, F., 2017. Gender discrimination in online peer-to-peer credit lending:
evidence from a lending platform in China. Electronic Commerce Research. 17(4).
pp.553-583.
Holland, K. J. and Cortina, L. M., 2016. Sexual harassment: Undermining the wellbeing of
working women. In Handbook on well-being of working women (pp. 83-101).
Springer, Dordrecht.
Lucifora, C. and Vigani, D., 2016. What if your boss is a woman? Work organization, work-life
balance and gender discrimination at the workplace.
Melki, J. P. and Mallat, S. E., 2016. Block her entry, keep her down and push her out: gender
discrimination and women journalists in the Arab world. Journalism Studies. 17(1).
pp.57-79.
21

Quick, J. C. and McFadyen, M., 2017. Sexual harassment: Have we made any progress?. Journal
of occupational health psychology. 22(3). p.286.
Rouse, L.P. and et. al., 2016. Workplace bullying among family physicians: A gender focused
study. Journal of Women's Health. 25(9). pp.882-888.
Watt, H. M. G., 2016. Gender and motivation. Handbook of motivation at school, pp.320-339.
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Appendix
Questionnaire
Q1) Are you aware about the impact of gender based discrimination at workplace of Marks &
Spencer Brent Cross Shopping Centre?
a). Yes
b). No
Q2) According to you, what are the main causes of gender discrimination in the workplace of
M&S?
a). Unequal pay
b). Female employees are promoted less often than male
c). Racism
Q3) What are the negative effects of gender based discrimination in the working environment of
M&S?
a). High employee turnover
b). Damaged moral
c). Lost productivity
Q4) Does gender discrimination has negative impact over performance and productivity of
Marks & Spencer?
a). Strongly Agree
b). Agree
c) Disagree
d). Strongly Disagree
Q5) According to you, high employee turnover is a main issue faced by M&S due to gender
23

discrimination at workplace?
a). Yes
b). No
Q6) How gender discrimination influences the paying ratio of Marks & Spencer Brent Cross
Shopping Centre?
a). Positive Influence
b). Negative influence
c). Neutral
Q7) As per your opinion, what ways must be require to follow by M&S for promoting gender
equality at workplace?
a). Altering hiring practices to enhance diversity
b). Developing an open-mined environment
c). Providing equal pay and opportunity to male and female employees
Q8) What ways may be require use by Marks & Spencer for reducing the issue associated with
gender discrimination at workplace environment?
a). Provide training on unconscious bias or discrimination
b). Review salaries and standardize pay
c). Support women into more senior role
d). Have a clear policy on discrimination
Q9) Does eliminating gender discrimination at workplace helps M&S in accomplishment of
competitive advantages?
a). Yes
b). No
24

Q10) Provide any recommendation to M&S in management of gender based discrimination at
workplace.
25