Ethics Application: Analyzing Technology & Innovation Impact on M&S

This document presents a research ethics application for a student project analyzing the impact of technology and innovation on business management, specifically focusing on Marks and Spencer. It details the recruitment process using simple random sampling, the method for obtaining informed consent, and measures for maintaining data protection in compliance with GDPR. The application outlines the data collection methods, including primary data from questionnaires and secondary data sources, and addresses potential psychological and reputational risks to participants, along with strategies to mitigate these risks. Ethical considerations such as avoiding plagiarism and ensuring participant benefits are also discussed. The application includes a checklist confirming consideration of physical, emotional, psychological, and cultural risks, as well as data security and anonymity, ultimately aiming for ethical research conduct and data destruction post-grading.

E-mail(s):
5. Your project supervisor(s)
Name(s):
4. Name of applicant (the student):
Research Ethics Application for Taught Degree (Bachelors) or HND students
Application for study involving Human Participants
NB: This form should be submitted to your Research Methods module leader for review by
the OLC Ethics Committee, prior to further discussion and signed off by your research
supervisor. The form is designed as a discussion document as well as a record of ethical
approval. Please ensure you have carried out an assessment of data privacy and
confidentiality if your project involves collection of personal data.
All fields will expand as required.
1. Title of Project: To analyze the impact of technology and innovation in managing business: A
study of Marks and Spencer.
2. As this a student project, please indicate type of course you are on by ticking/ highlighting
the relevant box:
□ BSc □ BA □ HND
3. Type of study: please indicate type of study you are on by ticking/ highlighting the relevant
box:
□ Involves direct involvement by human subjects
□ Involves existing documents/anonymised data only.

14. Other ethical considerations
7. Describe the sample of participants (including for example, number, age, gender).
The sample of participants taken are 30 employees from Marks and Spencer.
6. Provide a concise summary of your research project in lay terms (maximum length 150 words). What are you p
This research project is associated with different aspects of business and management. Technology and its advancem
8. Explain concisely how you will recruit the participants (be specific).
From the population of employees working in Marks and Spencer, 30 samples will be chosen
with the method of simple random sampling.
9. Explain concisely how you obtain informed consent from participants. You need to
ensure it is easy for people to withdraw consent and tell them how.
Informed consent from participants will be obtained from a consent that will be provided to
each of the participants.
10. Explain how you will maintain data protection. State what personal and/ or sensitive data
you may collect and how this will be stored (see guidance HYPERLINK "https://ico.org.uk/for-
organisations/guide-to-the-general-data-protection-regulation-gdpr/key-definitions/" UK General
Data Protection Regulations (GDPR)).
The data gathered will be stored in online platforms on cloud with proper security and is not accessible to
anyone without the authority to do so.
11. Explain concisely how you will offer review opportunities, a debrief or, follow up for
participants (as appropriate).
The debriefing of the participants begins with the introduction to the topic of the research and by
providing them with name and contact number. Brief explanation of the study conducted will be
given followed by thanking them for generous participation.
12. Briefly describe each of your data collection and analysis methods (you may just have
one method)
Method 1 Primary data collection from questionnaire
Method 2 Secondary data collection
Method 3 Nil
Method 4 Nil
13. Risks Explain any risks that your
research participants might
face because of the research
project (this might include
psychological and
reputational risks)
Describe how you will control
the risks you have identified
1 psychological risks It includes having negative effect
such as anxiety, guilt, loss of self-
esteem and even altered behavior
This is controlled by providing
complete information regarding the
protocol and research design.
2 Loss of confidentiality Confidentiality is identifiable
information that is presumed and
important to be maintained.
This is maintained y giving the
assurity of maintaining complete
anonymity and destroying the data
gather once the research is
completed and graded.
3 Reputational risk This risk is about having alterations
in the relations and building a case
of having embarrassment and loss
of respect.
It is controlled by securing against
data breaches and having ethical
conduct of the research

Explain any risks that you may face as a researcher, and what steps you will take to control
them.
There is a risk of copying the data and information from other sources. This is avoided by giving
credit of the sources from where the data is gathered. This is mentioned in the referencelist
present at the end of the research.
Explain briefly any benefits that your research participants may gain from participation.
They will gain the sense of empowerment along will the scope of increasing their knowledge
from this research study.
Explain briefly how you will collect each type of data– such as hard copy paper / digital / audio /
video.
Each type of data is collected in from of a digital copy.
State a date when you will destroy by shredding, burning or deletion your data files. Note: this
should be after the award of a confirmed grade for your degree.
After the research project is graded.
15. Check you have considered each issue below and fully explained it in your
application, then put x in the box
I have identified and taken steps to control
any physical, emotional or psychological risk
to participants
X
I have identified and taken steps to control
any cultural offence that might be caused
X
I have identified any vulnerable groups
involved and taken steps to control the risks
X
I have explained how I will get permission
from managers to recruit participants on their
premises
X
I have made clear that no deception is
involved in the study
X
I have explained the level of anonymity for
participants and how it will be maintained
X
I have explained how participants will be
informed and have the chance to ask
questions beforehand
X
I have explained how participants may make
follow up enquiries after their part in the study
X
I have explained how data will be kept secure
and destroyed after the study
X

16. Role Name e-Signature Date
You (Student)
Your Supervisor
Module leader or
lecturer responsible
for the research
ethics within your
programme/ module
Supportive Materials Checklist
Please attach all necessary supportive materials and indicate in the checklist below.
Supportive Material Version and Date
Research protocol or research proposal
Participant Information Sheet (If
applicable)
Debriefing Sheet (if applicable)
Consent Form
Letter of invitation (if applicable)
Other (such as interview schedule,
questionnaires, measures: please state, and
explain)

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