Research Ethics Approval Form for SME Digital Technology Project

This document is a completed research ethics approval form submitted by a student for a research project titled "The implications of digital technologies on SMEs." The form details the project's basic information, including the research methods employed (questionnaires and observations), participant recruitment and consent processes, data storage and security measures, and potential ethical concerns. The student outlines how they will inform participants, obtain consent, and ensure data protection in compliance with the Data Protection Act. The form also addresses ethical considerations such as informed consent, confidentiality, and data security. The student declares their understanding and adherence to the institution's Research and Ethics Policy, confirming discussion of ethical issues with their unit tutor. The form is intended for submission to the Cohort Leader and supervisor.

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.
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: “The implications of digital technologies on SME’s”
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
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 Observations Yes
 Use of personal records No
 Data Analysis Yes
 Action Research No
 Focus Groups No
 Others (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 an approached)?
Through interviews
Describe the processes you will use to inform participants about what you
are doing:
Process to inform the participants is emails.
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?
Studies involving questionnaires: will participants be given the option of
omitting questions that 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.
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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 the Data Protection Act (1998)
Yes No
Who will have access to the data and personal information?
Researcher will have access data
During the research:
Where will the data be stored?
In hard disk and personal computer
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?
In hard disk and personal computer
How long will the data and records be kept for and in what format?
Almost 2 years
Will data be kept for use by other researchers?
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Yes 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:
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.
 Sensitive topics
 Confidentiality/anonymity
 Disclosures/ limits to confidentiality
 Data storage and security, both during and after the research
(including transfer, sharing, encryption, protection).
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 this is a full description of the
ethical issues that may arise in the course of my research
Name: Date:
Please submit your completed form to the Cohort Leader and a copy
to your supervisor only
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