Research Ethics Form: Digital Technology and SME Research Project

This document presents a completed research ethics approval form for a student project titled "To explore the impact of digital technology on small medium enterprise: Black penny." The form details the project's methods, including questionnaires, and outlines the participant recruitment process, which involves face-to-face meetings with 10 employees. It addresses informed consent, data storage and security, and potential ethical concerns, such as confidentiality and anonymity. The form confirms compliance with the Data Protection Act (1998) and specifies that data will be stored electronically. The student declares adherence to the institution's Research and Ethics Policy and confirms discussions with their Unit Tutor. The form also includes information on how participants will be informed about the study and how consent will be obtained. The student addresses various ethical issues, ensuring the project's adherence to ethical research practices. This form is designed to gain ethical approval before commencing research involving human participants or the use of data collected from them.

Research Ethics approval form
All students conducting research activity that involves human participants or the use of data
collected form 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.
Section 1: Basic details:
Project title “To explore the impact of digital technology on small medium enterprise: Black
penny”
Student name:
Student ID number:
Programme:
College Name:
Intended research start date:
Intended research end date:
Section 2 Project summary
Please select all research methods that you plan to use as a part of your project:
➢ Interviews No
➢ Questionnaires Yes
➢ Observations No
➢ Use of personal records No
➢ Data Analysis Yes
➢ Action Research No
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➢ Focus Groups No
➢ Others (Please specify) :
Section 3: Participants
There are 10 employees selected for the participation in Questionnaire. all the employees has provided
their own view regarding use of digital technology and its impact on business and employees
performance effectively.
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.
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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 an approached)?
Particiants were recruited by a face to face meeting.
Describe the processes you will use to inform participants about what you are doing:
Personal interaction with the participants as well as participant information sheets will be used for
communicating about research.
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?
Written consent will be obtained.
Studies involving questionnaires: will participants be given the option of omitting questions that do not
wish to answer?
No
If no please explain why below and ensure that you cover any ethical issues arising from this
This is because all the questions in the questionnaire are important for attaining the aim of the study.
Studies involving observation: Confirm whether participants will be asked for their
informed consent to be observed.
Yes
Will you debrief participants at the end of their participation (i.e give them a brief explanation of the
study)?
Yes
Will participants be given information about the findings of your study?(This could be a brief summary
of your findings in general)
No
Section 4: Data Storage and Security
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Confirm that all personal data will be stored and processed in compliance with the Data Protection Act
(1998)
Yes
Who will have access to the data and personal information?
Only the researcher and other authorized personnel.
During the research:
Where will the data be stored?
In electronic form.
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Will mobile devices such as USB storage and laptops be used
Yes
If Yes, please provide further details:
Laptop will be used for collecting and storing information.
After the research:
Where will the data be stored?
In Laptop
How long will the data and records be kept for and in what format?
Till the research is over. It will be kept in electronic form.
Will data be kept for use by other researchers?
No
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:
No, there are no such features which may raise ethical concerns.
It is important that you demonstrate your awareness of potential risks that may arise because of your
research. Please consider/address all issues that may apply. Ethical concerns may include, but are not
limited to the following :
➢ Informed consent. – This will be obtained from the participants
➢ Potentially vulnerable participants- There are no such participants.
➢ Sensitive topics – No, the research does not involve sensitive topics.
➢ Risk to participants and /or researchers – No risk.
➢ Confidentiality/anonymity – This will be considered in the research.
➢ Disclosures/ limits to confidentiality
➢ Data storage and security, both during and after the research (including transfer, sharing,
encryption, protection). – This will be maintained.
➢ 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
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Tutor:
Yes No
I confirm that to the best of my knowledge:
The above information is correct, and this is a full description of the
ethical issues that may arise in the course of my research
Name: Date:
Ple
a
onl
y
se submit your completed form to the Cohort Leader and a copy to
your supervisor
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