Research Proposal: Workplace Discrimination and Ethical Considerations

This document presents a comprehensive research proposal and ethical approval form focused on workplace discrimination, specifically examining its impact on employee job performance at Primark. The proposal outlines the research objectives, which include examining the basis of discrimination, determining its impact, and identifying associated complexities. It delves into literature sources discussing various types of discrimination, its effects on employee morale and performance, and specific instances of discrimination within Primark. The proposal details the research activities, timelines, and the use of the research onion framework, including research philosophy (interpretivism), approach (inductive), strategies (questionnaire), choice (qualitative), and time horizon (cross-sectional). The ethical form addresses participant recruitment, consent, data storage, and potential ethical concerns such as informed consent, confidentiality, and data security. The student confirms adherence to ethical guidelines and discusses the ethical issues with their unit tutor.

PROPOSAL AND ETHICAL FORM

Table of Contents
RESEARCH PROPOSAL FORM...................................................................................................1
RESEARCH ETHICS APPROVAL FORM..................................................................................6

RESEARCH PROPOSAL FORM
Student Name: ______________________ Student ID: ____________
Centre Name: _____________________
Tutor: ________________ Date: ___________________
Unit: ____________________
Proposed Title: Workplace discrimination.
Section One: Title, objective, responsibilities
Title or working title of the research project (in the form of a question, objective or
hypothesis)
“To examine impact of workplace discrimination on employee job performance.” A
study on Primark.
Research objectives (e.g what is the question you want to answer? What do you want
to learn how to do? What do you want to find out?):
Research Objectives
 To examine the basis of workplace discrimination.
 To determine impact of the workplace discrimination on job performance of Primark
employees.
 To identify the complexities arising from workplace discrimination in Primark.
Research Questions
 What is the basis of workplace discrimination?
 What is the impact of the workplace discrimination on job performance of Primark
employees?
 What complexities arising from workplace discrimination in Primark?
Section Two: Reasons for choosing this research project
Reasons for choosing the project (e.g links to other subjects you are studying, personal
interest, future plans, knowledge/skills you want to improve, why the topic is
important):
Present research is based on the impact of workplace discrimination on employee job
performance. It is helpful in give the better understanding about the discrimination arise at
workplace and its main impact on performance level of staff members. It helps in give the

basic knowledge and enhance understanding. On the other hand, present research helps
leader to carried out the research activities in future so that researcher can able to perform
the research activities in future.
Section Three: Literature sources searched
Use of key literature sources to support your research question, objective or
hypothesis:
Workplace discrimination
According to ALISON DOYLE (2019) Discrimination refers to the unfair treatment of staff
members on the basis of prejudices. Form of the discrimination is on the basis of sexual
orientation, sex, equal pay, pregnancy, age and many others. If employer treat any employee
differently at workplace due to different characteristics to the other employees then
employer could be act unlawfully. In this, direct discrimination occurs when in an
organisation someone is to be treated less favourable than the other staff.
Impact of the workplace discrimination on job performance of Primark employees
As per opinion of Marianne Calnan (2020) At workplace, issue arising from the
discrimination are evident to the each person. Discrimination results reinforces the
inequalities and also arise poor employee morale, poor commitment and high turnover
which impact on performance level of employee in an organisation. In Primary company,
there is an issue arise regarding the gender discrimination. Company has been ordered
through Employment Tribunal to be pay close to £50000 in compensation to former
employee which faced the harassment and dismissed for being the transgender. This kind of
issue develops negative impact on the job performance of staff members.
Complexities arising from workplace discrimination in Primark.
On the basis of JILL GEOGHEGAN (2018) Primark company has been forced and
reprimanded to pay around £50000 in compensation to former trans staff member after they
harassed and dismissed on continuous basis. On the other hand, claimant to the direct gender
reassignment the discrimination through failing to be investigate matter and also deal in an
effective manner. These all kind of complexities develop negative impact on employee
performance along with the productivity.
Online

Doyle, A., 2019. Types of Workplace Discrimination. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.thebalancecareers.com/types-of-employment-discrimination-with-examples-
2060914>.
Calnan, M., 2020. Transgender Primark employee told she had a ‘man’s voice’ was
harassed, tribunal rules. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.peoplemanagement.co.uk/news/articles/transgender-primark-worker-
harassed>.
GEOGHEGAN, J., 2020. Primark to pay £47,000 over transgender discrimination.[Online].
Available through: <https://www.drapersonline.com/news/primark-to-pay-47000-over-
transgender-discrimination/7029067.article>.
Section Four: Activities and timescales
Activities to be carried out during the research project (e.g research,
development and analysis of ideas, writing, data collection, numerical
analysis, tutor meetings, production of final outcome, evaluation,
writing the report):
Activities Start time End time
Introduction 20/02/20 26/02/20
Aims and Objectives 27/02/20 09/03/20
Literature review 10/03/20 27/03/20
Research methodology 20/03/20 22/04/20
Submission of Research
proposal
23/04/20 27/04/20
Data collection 28/04/20 04/06/20
Data Analysis 05/06/20 07/07/20
Conclusion and 08/07/20 15/07/20
How long this
will take:

Recommendations
Recommendations 16/07/20 21/07/20
Submission of final
project
27/07/20 23/07/20
Milestone one: _________________
Target date (set by tutor): ____________________
Milestone two: _______________________
Target date (set by tutor): ______________________
Gantt Chart

Section Five: Research approach and methodologies
What type of research approach and methodologies are you likely to use and why?
What your areas of research will cover:
Under this part, research onion framework has been used. This was developed through
Saunders et al. (2007). This consists the different stages which are given below:
Research philosophy- It is set of the beliefs concerning to beliefs that is concerned with
nature of reality being to be investigated. This can differ on research goals and better way
used to attain research objectives. Interpretivism and positivism are two different research
philosophies.
In conducting present investigation, interpretivism philosophy will be used because this
consider to an investigator to be interpret the study components.
Research Approach- The research approach are of two different types like inductive and
deductive. In conducting the present investigation, inductive approach will be used because
this starts with theories and observation that help in give the research outcomes.
Research Strategies- This is an action plan that provide the direction to efforts and thoughts
and also enabling to conduct an investigation in systematic manner. It is necessary for
choosing the right research strategy so that positive outcomes can be attained. There are
different strategies such as questionnaire, observation, interview and others.
In conducting given investigation, questionnaire will be used as research strategies because
it is an easiest way to collect information within less time period.
Research Choice- It is mainly inform about the way to collect information and data.
Qualitative and Quantitative are two different research choice. In doing present research,
qualitative will be used because this gives the understanding about specific research area
and positive conclusion.

Time horizon- Longitudinal and cross sectional are two different types of time horizon.
There will cross- sectional time horizon will be used because it provides the specific time
period so that research can be finished within set period of time.
Data collection- It is concerned with collecting as well as analysing the information on
targeted variables in an effective manner. Secondary and primary are two different methods
of data collection.
To collect information in present investigation, primary method will be used and develop
questionnaire.
Sampling- It is concerned with gathering sample from the whole population. There are
Probabilistic and non-probabilistic are various forms of the sampling. Random sampling
method is kind of the probabilistic sampling because this helps in give equal chance to
chosen respondents from whole population. By using this method, there will be 40
respondents selected.
Comments and agreement from tutor
Comments (optional):
I confirm that the project is not work which has been or will be submitted for another
qualification and is appropriate.
Agreed: ________________ (name)_______________ Date ______________
Comments and agreement form project proposal checker( IV sampling)
Comments (Optional):
I confirm that the project is appropriate.
Agreed /Disagree: (Name of the IV)
Date

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: Workplace discrimination.
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 Yes No
 Questionnaires Yes No
 Observations Yes No
 Use of personal records Yes No
 Data Analysis Yes No
 Action Research Yes No
 Focus Groups Yes No
 Others (Please specify) :
Section 3: Participants
Please answer the following questions, giving full details where necessary.
Will your research involve human participants?
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Yes
Who are the participants? Tick all that apply:
Ages 12-16: Young people aged: 17-18 Adults: 20-30
How will participants be recruited (identified an approached)?
The participants will be recruited by using random data sampling method.
Describe the processes you will use to inform participants about what you are doing:
To inform the participants, email has been used.
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.
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
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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?
Management will have the access to personal information and data.
During the research:
Where will the data be stored?
The data will be stored in 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?
Data will be stored in personal computer.
How long will the data and records be kept for and in what format?
Will data be kept for use by other researchers? 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
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