Research Project on Workplace Discrimination: Analysis and Strategies

This research project investigates workplace discrimination, employing qualitative research methods to analyze its causes and potential solutions. The study utilizes thematic analysis of data collected from focus group interviews, identifying untrained employees, insecurity, and narrow societal mentalities as key drivers of discrimination. The research highlights the importance of effective training programs, equal opportunities, and the involvement of senior management in fostering an inclusive environment. Recommendations for improvement include providing comprehensive training on equality and anti-discrimination policies, broadening employee perspectives, and ensuring equal opportunities for all employees. The report also suggests avenues for future research, such as exploring the impact of discrimination on employee performance and identifying specific factors contributing to discrimination. Furthermore, the research proposes two future strategies: utilizing structured questionnaires and employing SPSS for more accurate data analysis. The project concludes by emphasizing the critical role of leadership in creating and maintaining a workplace free from discrimination, thereby improving employee morale and productivity.

RESEARCH
PROJECT

TABLE OF CONTENTS
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................3
1) Using appropriate research evaluation techniques..................................................................3
2) Interpretation and Analysis of the results................................................................................3
3) Recommendations for improvements and for future research.................................................4
4) Suggesting two future strategies..............................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6
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TASK 3
1) Using appropriate research evaluation techniques
There are basically two types of research investigation to be used, such as qualitative and
quantitative research methods (Barak, 2013). However, in the present study, qualitative research
study has been used in order to make the action plan for the elimination of discrimination at
workplace. Here, quantitative tools cannot be used for analyzing the collected data (Ellis and
Watson, 2012). Further, the primary data will be used for the purpose of creating an action plan
and those information will be interpreted using the qualitative method. Apart from this, thematic
techniques will be used for analyzing the data by considering the formulated research aims and
objectives. Thematic analysis is the most common type of analysis which is used in qualitative
research. It basically pin points, examine and records the pattern or themes within the data
(Wrench, 2008).
2) Interpretation and Analysis of the results
The data has been collected using the focused group interview and a group of 12 people
which are of different background in which there are few females, corporate executives, labors
and minority rights advocates have been made. The interviewer has asked few questions to them.
The respondents have provided several suggestions on those questions. After that the
interpretation and analysis has been made by the researcher thereon.
Theme 1: Untrained employees and insecurity are the causes of workplace discrimination
From the views of the respondents it can be interpreted that discrimination at workplace
mainly occurs because of the narrow mentality of the society. Further, some of the responses
were received from the respondents that employees or labors are not aware about the laws and
regulations of discrimination at the workplace. Moreover, it has also been analyzed that
workforce is untrained and they don't possess the knowledge about the equality at workplace. In
addition to this, insecurity is also one of the major cause of discrimination. Thus, it has been
assessed that untrained employees and insecurity is the main cause for discrimination at
workplace.
Theme 2: Effective training can be used as a tool for the elimination of discrimination at
workplace
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As per the responses of the participants who have provided suggestions for the removal
of discrimination at workplace, it has been analyzed that by providing effective training about
the laws and regulations about the equality, discrimination can be removed. Further, some of the
people have suggested that by allocating task with the minorities and female candidates so that
working together will help in eliminating the discrimination. In a similar manner, organization
can encourage the equal participation from all the employees. Furthermore, it is required by the
management to treat all the staff members in an equal manner, than only employees can avoid to
discriminate between workforces. Moreover, the company should introduce the anti-
discriminatory policy in the organization so as to prevent the evil of discrimination. Thus, it has
been interpreted that training could be the best method to eliminate the discrimination at
workplace.
Theme 3: Senior management can be involved in eliminating the discrimination from the
workplace
According to the viewpoints of the respondents about the key people involved in
removing the discrimination in the workplace. It has been analyzed that senior management is
the key person who will be responsible for preventing the discriminatory environment from the
organization. It is because they can provide equal opportunities to the workforce and also they
can come and talk with each and every member of the company without being bias to anyone.
Further, some of the respondents replied on the fact that male employees are key people who can
be involved in removing the inequality from the organization. On the other hand, active
participation from labor class can be consider as a key person who can help in removing the
inequality. Therefore, it can be interpreted that senior management can be held as a key person
who can be involved for preventing the discrimination form workplace.
3) Recommendations for improvements and for future research
Recommendations for improvements
The collected data reveals that discrimination at workplace is caused due to the
ineffective training provided to the employees about the inequality or discrimination at
workplace (Badgett, Sears and Ho, 2007). However, this can be recommended to the
organization that company should provide effective training to the employees in order to
eliminate the disparity at the place of job. Further, training can be provided by hiring the experts
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and minority rights advocates so the employee's mentality can be broadened (Williams and
Bornstein, 2007.). Further, the company also provide equal opportunities to each and every
candidate in order to avoid the problem of insecurity among the employees of the firm.
Moreover, this can be done by involving the senior management for this task. This will help in
creating the anti-discriminatory environment at workplace (Carlsson and Rooth, 2007). It is
because senior management can treat the workforce in an equal manner and also by contacting
every individual will help them in removing the inequalityat workplace (Equal employment
opportunity & anti-discrimination, 2016).
Recommendations for Future Research
After doing the research about the elimination of discrimination at the workplace a
research in future can be conducted in the same stream about the impacts of discrimination at on
employee performance. Further, the detail research can also be conducted on the factors
responsible for the discrimination at workplace. This will help the researcher in knowing about
the clear fact that to what are the actual causes of discrimination at place of work. Moreover,
researcher also gives a view that one of the major factor of declining performance of employees
are discrimination happening at workplace.
4) Suggesting two future strategies
For the purpose of conducting the same research, a researcher can use either or both of
the strategies in order to find out the appropriate solutions for the study. The two strategies are
described as follows:
1. Researcher can make the use of structured questionnaire for interpreting the results.
2. Use of SPSS can be done in order to interpret and analyze the results in a more accurate
manner.
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REFERENCES
Journals and Books
Ellis, E. and Watson, P., 2012. EU anti-discrimination law. OUP Oxford.
Wrench, J., 2008. Diversity management and discrimination: Immigrants and ethnic minorities in
the EU. Human Resource Management International Digest. 16(4).
Barak, M.E.M., 2013. Managing diversity: Toward a globally inclusive workplace. Sage
Publications.
Badgett, M.V., Lau, H., Sears, B. and Ho, D., 2007. Bias in the workplace: Consistent evidence
of sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination. The Williams Institute.
Williams, J.C. and Bornstein, S., 2007. Evolution of FReD: Family Responsibilities
Discrimination and Developments in the Law of Stereotyping and Implicit Bias.
Hastings. LJ. 59, p.1311.
Carlsson, M. and Rooth, D.O., 2007. Evidence of ethnic discrimination in the Swedish labor
market using experimental data. Labour Economics. 14(4), pp.716-729.
Online
Equal employment opportunity & anti-discrimination. 2016. [Online]. Available through
<http://www.business.gov.au/business-topics/employing-people/Pages/equal-
employment-opportunity-and-anti-discrimination.aspx>. [Accessed on 30 January
2016].
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APPENDIX
Question 1: What are the causes of workplace discrimination?
Question 2: Suggest how workplace discrimination can be eliminated?
Question 3: Key people can be involved in eliminating the discrimination from the workplace?
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