LSBM300 BRP Proposal: Impact of Smoking on Athlete Fitness

This Business Research Project (BRP) proposal explores the impact of smoking on the fitness and health of athletes. The proposal includes a detailed introduction providing rationale and research objectives, followed by a literature review that explores the concepts of health and fitness consciousness and the detrimental impacts of smoking on athletes. The methodology section outlines the research approach, including the use of quantitative research methods, random sampling, questionnaires for data collection, and Microsoft Excel for data analysis. Ethical considerations, such as informed consent and data protection, are also addressed, along with the identification of research limitations and the resources utilized. The proposal aims to analyze the impact of smoking on athletes' health and fitness, providing a comprehensive framework for the research project.

BRP Proposal Template
Business Research Project
LSBM300
2020-21

Index
Instructions 2
1. The Research Proposal Structure Template 3
2. Ethical Review Form 6
2.1 Ethical Review Form: Part 1 8
2.2 Ethical Review Form: Part 2 9
2.3 Ethical Review Form: Part 3 10
3. Company consent 11
Appendix 1: Participant information sheet 12
Appendix 2: Participant consent form 13
Appendix 3: Company consent form 14
BRP Proposal Template 2020-21 Page 1

Instructions
This document has three sections:
 Section 1: The Research Proposal Template
 Section 2: The Ethical Review Form (Parts A, B and C)
 Section 3: Company Consent Form
All students are required to complete Sections 1 and 2, and together these form the Business
Research Project Proposal.
Only students who are conducting research directly with a company need to complete Section 3.
If your research involves the use of human participants, you will need to complete the Ethics Approval
Form. Failure to complete the Ethics Approval Form, when required to do so, will result in your work
being returned unmarked. No research with human participants can be undertaken without receiving
Ethics Approval and achieving a pass grade on the proposal.
Before you submit this Proposal form, please make sure that you have:
 Read the Business Research Project Handbook
 Read the lecture and seminar materials in the Business Research Project module area
in Canvas
 Discussed your ideas with a Business Research Project tutor. You can do this face to
face in the seminars or learning sets, or you can do this by email or through the
discussion board in Canvas
 Discussed with a Business Research Project tutor any questions you have about Part
3 of the Ethics Approval Form (if required).
 Gained consent from the company if you are conducting research on a company.
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1. The Research Proposal Structure Template
Cover page details
Student name:
Student ID number:
Name of Tutor/Supervisor:
Discussed research proposal with tutor/supervisor through the following ways:
Face to face
E-mail
Online platforms (e.g Canvas Virtual sessions, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Skype etc)
Title and Cover page
To analyse the impact of smoking on fitness and health conditions of athletes.
Cover page details
 Cover page should include details such as student name, ID number, title, name of
tutor/supervisor etc
Title (maximum 20 words)
 A title should be brief and clearly presenting the main idea and focus of the research
proposal. If necessary, you may use a colon to separate the main idea and a further
explanation/elaboration of the main idea (e.g. ‘CSR: Does it influence consumers in the
banking sector?)
 You may formulate your topic as a question. The research question is important because it
will guide your research. You should have one research question for a project of this size.
 Choosing a title for your Research Project may be more difficult than you expect. As you read
around your preferred topic area you will find your ideas developing and possibly changing as
you get more information from further research.
 You will need to come up with a provisional title as soon as possible and prepare to discuss
and agree with your tutor/supervisor.
Table of contents
 The contents page should list the different chapters and/or headings together with the page
numbers.
 Your contents page should be presented in such a way that the reader can quickly scan the
list of headings and locate any chapter and sections covered in the project.
 You should number your chapters, sections, headings and subheadings in addition to
providing page references. Whatever numbering system you use, be sure that it is clear and
consistent throughout.
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Chapter 1: Background to the study – Introduction
(Terms of Reference)
The introduction sets the context for the main body of the research project.
 Provide a rationale for your research
The basic reason behind considering this particular topic is that most of the athletes are
looking forward to improve their existing health conditions. However, smoking is
considered as a habit, which impacts on health of individuals in different ways. It has also
been analysed that, tragically, practicing smoking doesn't switch huge numbers of the other
medical issues brought about by smoking. Notwithstanding aspiratory issues, smoking
likewise influences heart wellbeing. Resting heartbeat will be up to 30% higher on the off
chance that smoke cigarettes. This can make issues for competitors. It could be placing
the wellbeing in peril if pulse rate excessively raised. Since the two cigarettes and exercise
add to higher pulses, the danger of competitors going into heart failure or other genuine
heart issues will be higher in the event that they smoke. Pulse will be raised for 12 hours
subsequent to smoking, so there is little that should be possible to lessen this danger in the
event that smoke on numerous occasions a day. The danger increments with the quantity
of cigarettes that smoke. Competitors should be discerning of these issues in the event
that they smoke routinely. Exercise may help alleviate a portion of the danger factors,
however it doesn't verge on switching them.
 State your research aim
 To analyse the impact of smoking on fitness and health conditions of athletes. A case study
on United Kingdom
 State your research objectives
 To understand the concept of health and fitness consciousness.
 To analyse the importance of fitness and health consciousness of athletes.
 To identify the impact of smoking on fitness and health conditions of athletes.
Chapter 2: Preliminary Literature Review
Concept of health and fitness consciousness
It is the most important topic for the athletes who took part in Olympics games. For athletes it is very
important that they are aware about their health because it directly influence the game. Many of the
athletes who take steroids for their body building, in which they are forget to know their health.
Athletes are the person who play games with their mid and physical activities, for that they should be
get aware about their health and fitness. Poor health destroys their games that give negative impact
on their past record. So that's why it is very important for athletes that they should get aware for their
health and fitness.
Importance of fitness and health consciousness of athletes
It is very clear that athletes should be aware for their health and fitness from the above mentioned
data. It is identified that those people who are conscious for their health and fitness get very big
benefits. Some of the benefits are mentioned below:
 Healthy mind: When the athletes are health conscious they they do not perform those
activities that gives negative impact on their health. Their health consciousness helps to
make their mind healthy and calm that helps to take right decision.
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 Positive attitude- With the help of fitness and health consciousness athlete has the benefits to
make their attitude positive because they always feel good. When the person gets healthy
then they have positive attitude that made their surroundings positive. It really helps to play
games very efficiently.
 Win situation: Healthy mind give the positive feelings that improve their games which become
the source of their win situation. Sometimes if there is lost situation but their athletes are
healthy then they have a possibility to convert them into win situation.
Passionate: If the athlete is health conscious then they are fit and giving their best efforts to the
games. It really helps to being passionate on their games. Because the bad health impact on their
mood wings that means they are not being in a situation for play games passionately. So the healthy
mind gives the athletes positive attitude that helps to play their games in Olympics passionately.
Impact of smoking on fitness and health conditions of athletes
Smoking is habit which is difficult to break for an individual and it is more difficult for an athlete as they
have to work on their physical exercise a lot. Smoking affects the body which cannot be judged
through their quantity. It does not matter up to what quantity an individual is smoking but it adversely
affects their body. Smoking can attract a lot of complication in the body of an athlete. The impact of
smoking on the athlete can be explained as follows:
 Decrease in benefits of the physical activity: Smoking will affect the bones of an athlete
due to which they can suffer from lower back pain and regular body pain. As this will result in
less benefits obtained from their physical activity.
 Minimise their strength: This habit can minimise the strength of the athlete and they will
suffer from stress and anxiety. This will also result in mood simulation which will impact their
daily routine exercise. Moreover, this will impact their flexibility which will show an impact on
their muscular strength.
 Sleep Patterns: Smoking will impact the sleep patterns of the athlete which will increase their
lack of concentration in their physical activity. Due to which athlete will require more time to
heal from small injuries.
 Shortness of Breath: Due to regular smoking an athlete can suffer from shortness of breath
as compared to non-smokers it will be almost three times. This will reduce their life
expectancy rate.
Chapter 3: Methodology
 Research methodology: Qualitative and quantitative are said to be the two crucial research
methodologies, which are specifically being considered by most of the researchers. In present
context, quantitative research methodology is considered in order to analyse the topic in
rightful manner.
 Sampling: Random sampling method is considered in this particular research investigation,
where the researchers will be focusing on 50 athletes from a number of athletes.
 Data collection methods: Primary data collection tools like questionnaire, interview, focus
groups are the one that helps the researcher in collecting right data in relation with the chosen
topic in a short span. In present investigation, the particular research methodology that is
being taken into consideration is questionnaire.
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 Data analysis methods: Microsoft Excel will be considered to develop graphs based on the
answers given by respondents. This will help researcher in analysing the data in much
effective and in efficient ways.
 Ethical considerations - Ethics are played an important role in completing of each and every
activity of the study in ethical and systematic way. There are various research ethics that
must be taken by researcher in this consideration. These are informed consent, justice,
respect for person, minimise the despite practice, provide right to the participants withdraw,
confidentiality and data protection and many more (May and et. al., 2018). All are important
and useful principles of research ethics that will be essential and important for investigator in
doing of entire activity of the dissertation in ethical and successful manner. This will be
beneficial for researcher in accomplishment of objectives of the dissertation in effective
manner.
 Research Limitations: There are different limitations of the current project such as lack of
time period, insufficient amount of capital, un-ethical behaviour of the respondents, secondary
data not accurate and out of data etc. These are major limitations that have negative effect
over performance of researcher while carrying out present investigation. Apart from this, there
are different methods that will be used for overcoming all limitations in systemic manner. For
example: Gantt chart will be applied for reducing the issue of time, following all principles of
research ethics etc. These ways or sources helps investigator in reducing the all limitations in
systematic manners.
Resources (approx. 100 words)
 Internet is the most crucial resource, which is helpful for the researcher in collecting the data
in much effective and in efficient manner.
References
Bramantoro, T., Hariyani, N., Setyowati, D., Purwanto, B., Zulfiana, A.A. and Irmalia, W.R., 2020. The
impact of oral health on physical fitness: A systematic review. Heliyon, 6(4), p.e03774.
Podrihalo, O., Savina, S., Podrigalo, L., Iermakov, S., Jagiełło, W., Rydzik, Ł. and Błach, W., 2020.
Influence of Health Related Fitness on the Morphofunctional Condition of Second Mature Aged
Women. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(22), p.8465.
Jones, M.E., Davies, M.A., Leyland, K.M., Delmestri, A., Porter, A., Ratcliffe, J., Peirce, N., Newton,
J.L. and Arden, N.K., 2018. Osteoarthritis and other long-term health conditions in former elite
cricketers. Journal of science and medicine in sport, 21(6), pp.558-563.
Paryab, N., Taheri, M., Irandoust, K. and Mirmoezzi, M., 2020. Effects of Melatonin on Neurological
Function and Maintenance of Physical and Motor Fitness in Collegiate Student-Athletes Following
Sleep Deprivation. International Journal of Sport Studies for Health, 3(2).
Đorđević Šaranović, S., Vićić, J., Pešić, I., Tomović, M., Batinić, Đ., Antić, M., Tadic, M. and Mazić, S.,
2019. The influence of tobacco use on pulmonary function in elite athletes. International journal of
environmental research and public health, 16(19), p.3515.
Mündel, T., 2017. Nicotine: sporting friend or foe? A review of athlete use, performance
consequences and other considerations. Sports Medicine, 47(12), pp.2497-2506.
2. Ethical Review Form
This form is designed to ensure that the Bloomsbury Institute London operates an ethical review
process that falls within the University of Northampton Research Ethics Procedure and the Guidance
on Ethics for Researchers.
All students need to fill in this form; however, you may only need to complete Part 1 (see explanation
below).
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The Ethical Review Form consists of 3 parts:
 Part 1 is an initial assessment of your project. The question is asking you whether you
will be conducting empirical research for your Business Research Project. Your
methodology may involve the collection of primary data through questionnaires,
interviews and observations etc. or you may be conducting ‘desk based research’ i.e.
only using secondary research data.
 If you are only using secondary research data, you will not need to complete Parts 2 or
3 of the form.
 If your research involves human participants, i.e. you are collecting primary data, you
have to complete Part 2 of the form.
 If your answer is no to all the questions in Part 2, ethics approval is automatic and
provided you receive a pass grade for your proposal you may continue with your
research project.
 If your answer is yes to any of the questions in Part 2, you need to fill in Part 3 of this
form. You should discuss this with a tutor/supervisor prior to submission of your
proposal.
 Upon submission, your proposal will be graded and then reviewed by the Head of
Research/Ethics Committee. You will be informed of the decision, together with any
comments, as soon as possible. You may be asked to provide a more detailed report
and a meet with the Ethics Committee.
 If the committee finds it difficult to make a decision, we may pass this on to the
University of Northampton Research Ethics Committee. However, in the vast majority
of cases, we hope to resolve any such ethical issues.
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2.1 Ethical Review Form: Part 1
Part 1 should be completed by all Business Research Project students.
Please read the following two statements and place an X in the area indicated for the statement that
most accurately represents your research intentions.
Student Statement Insert X Student Action
Statement 1
I have read the above information. I
confirm that my research does not
include study on human participants. ✓
You do not need to complete Part 2
of this form. Ethics approval is not
required.
Statement 2
I have read the above information. I
confirm that my research involves the
study on human participants. ✓ Please proceed to complete Part 2
of this form.
Proposals that are submitted without the completed Ethical Review Form may not be
considered for grading.
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2.2 Ethical Review Form: Part 2
Part 2 only needs to be completed if you put a cross against Statement 2 in Part 1 above.
Yes No
I have prepared a participant information sheet (including information on secure data
storage), and submitted it in Appendix 1. ✓
I have prepared a participant consent form (including information on the right to withdraw
from the study), and submitted it in Appendix 2.
If you answered ‘Yes’ to either of the above, please note that your final Research Project will have to
include the relevant document (a participant information sheet and/or a participant consent form.)
Please answer all of these questions by ticking either ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ in the box provided in each case.
Yes No
1.
Does the study involve participants who are particularly vulnerable or unable to
give informed consent? (e.g. people under the age of 18, people with learning
disabilities, students you teach or assess) ✓
2.
Will it be necessary for participants to take part in the study without their
knowledge and consent at the time? ✓
3.
Does the study involve audio or visual recording of people in public places?
4.
Will the study involve the discussion of sensitive topics? (e.g. sexual activity, drug
use, illegal activities, death, whistleblowing)
5.
Are drugs, placebos or other substances to be given to the study participants or
will the study involve invasive, intrusive or potentially harmful procedures of any
kind?
6.
Does your study involve a topic that would be considered ‘sensitive’ (age, culture,
race, gender, sexuality, socio-economic standing, or religion)?
7.
Is physical pain or psychological stress from the proposed project likely to cause
harm or negative consequences beyond the risks in normal life?
8.
Does the study involve groups or materials that may be construed as terrorist or
extremist?
9.
Will financial inducements (other than expenses) be offered to participants?
10.
Does the study involve the collection of data that is not anonymised (contains
identifying information such as name and address)?
If your answer is yes to any of these questions, please fill in Part 3.
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2.3 Ethical Review Form: Part 3
Part 3 only needs to be completed if you ticked Yes for any of the statements in Part 2 above.
2.3.1 Explanation of intent to address ethical issues
Please provide an explanation of how you intend to address the ethical issues raised in Part 2.
You will need to do this in consultation with a Business Research Project tutor/supervisor. Please
identify which tutor you discussed these issues with, and how the discussion took place.
Supervisor/Tutor’s name:
How discussions took place:
Explanation of how you intend to address the ethical issues raised in Part 2:
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3. Company consent
Print off this form and make sure it has the required signature. You then need to scan the page and
insert it as an image in Appendix 3.
Alternatively, the company may choose to give you a signed consent document of their own, which
you will need to scan and insert in Appendix 3.
Consent from the host Company
Student Name: _______________________________________
Student ID number: _______________________________________
I consent to the aforementioned named student carrying out research on company premises
or in relation to this Company.
Senior Manager Name: _______________________________________
Senior Manager Signature: _______________________________________
Host Company Name: _______________________________________
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Appendix 1: Participant information sheet
To be completed only if you answered ‘Yes’ to the first section (table) of Part 2 of the Ethical Review
Form. In that case, you will have to prepare a participant information sheet and include that as an
appendix in the final Research Project.
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Appendix 2: Participant consent form
To be completed only if you answered ‘Yes’ to the first section (table) of Part 2 of the Ethical Review
Form. In that case, the completed participant consent form will have to be included as an appendix in
the final Research Project.
Research Project: Participant Consent Form
Full Title of Research Project:………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Name of Researcher: …………………………………………………………………
Contact Details of Researcher:
Email: ………………………………………
Tel.: ..……………………………………….
1. I confirm that I have read and understand the information sheet for the above Research
Project.
Yes/No
2. I understand my role as a participant, and I have had the opportunity to ask questions. Yes/No
3. I understand that any data/information that I shall provide shall be provided on a
confidential basis/anonymous basis.
Note: Delete whichever is not applicable: confidential basis or anonymous basis
Yes/No
4. I agree to participate in the above Research Project if the data collected will be used
only for academic purposes.
Yes/No
5. I understand that my participation is voluntary and that I am free to withdraw at any
time, without giving reason.
Yes/No
6. I understand that I am not obliged to take part in the research, and that I will not suffer
any detriment if I do not participate.
7. I agree to take part in the above Research Project without any financial inducements.
Yes/No
Yes/No
Note: Include the following statements if appropriate, or delete from your consent form –
include any other questions that may be applicable
8. I agree to any interview / focus group / consultation being audio recorded. Yes/No
9. I agree to any interview / focus group / consultation being video recorded. Yes/No
10. I agree to the use of anonymised quotes to be included within the Research Project. Yes/No
Name of Participant Signature Date
Name of Researcher Signature Date
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Appendix 3: Company consent form
To be completed only if a signed company consent form was generated as suggested in Section 3
(Company Consent Form). In that case, the completed and signed company consent form will have
to be included as an appendix in the final Research Project.
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