Chapter III Proposal

_____ States the sequence of steps followed in conducting the research from development of the research instrument(s) to data analysis.

_____ Details all steps in a way that another researcher could follow the steps to reproduce the study.

_____ Explains the relation of the pilot study to the full study, if applicable.

Trustworthiness

This section is inadequate. Please follow these guidelines:

Addresses credibility, transferability, dependability, and confirmability.

_____ Shows evidence of quality by discussing how procedures will be/were followed to assure the accuracy of the data and lessen the impact of researcher bias (e.g., trustworthiness, member checks, triangulation, etc.).

Trustworthiness of the findings in a qualitative study includes four facets: (a) credibility, (b) transferability, (c) dependability, and (d) conformability (Holloway & Galvin, 2016). To support credibility, the researcher will ensure that data collected will be representative of participants’ thoughts and experiences. The researcher will perform member checking to establish credibility where participants will provide feedback on the data interpretations and analysis to verify its accuracy. Transferability is the ability to apply the findings and methods in other contexts (Holloway & Galvin, 2016). For conformability, the researcher will keep a journal log, which may include preconceptions, biases or anything that could impact the research objectivity (Santiago-Delefosse et al., 2016).

Ethical Concerns

_____ Provides adequate measures for ethical protection of participants.

_____ Includes detailed information about the informed consent process and how informed consent will be obtained.

_____ Includes Informed Consent Letter in Appendix.

_____ Includes detailed information about how confidentiality is addressed.

Ethical considerations are important to any research undertaking. It will be imperative to ensure proper steps are considered to ensure all participants are completely aware about their participation and the role they will play in the research process. To safeguard selected firms and participants’ rights, the researcher will take the following measures in this case study. The participants selected within the fast-food firms will not mentioned by name in the report to protect their reputations. Additionally, the privacy and confidentiality participants will be protected during and after the research process to encourage participants to be truthful and to help prevent the possibility of retaliation against them. How will you protest privacy and confidentiality? List specific steps. Discuss how data will be protected and why. The researcher will provide potential participants with consent forms and information sheets that will provide information about the study and give them the opportunity to decide if they would like to participate or not. The researcher will not use deception at any stage of the research and will make potential participants aware of what will be expected of them during the research process so they can make informed decision to continue or discontinue with participation. Continue to refine and expand this section. Comment by Sundstrom, Peggy: You are not selecting firms. You are selecting people from within firms.