Research Ethics Proposal

Assessment Information

Subject Code: BUS 604

Subject Name: Business Research Methods

Assessment Title: Assessment 3 – Research Ethics Proposal

Weighting: 40 %

Total Marks: Length:

40 3000 (+- 10%)

Due Date: Submission due Week 12 – Sunday at 11.59 pm

COURSE: Master of Business (Research)

Unit: Business Research Methods

Unit Code: BUS 604

Type of Assessment:

Assessment 3 – Research Ethics Proposal

Unit Learning Outcomes addressed:

(a) Demonstrate a critical appreciation of the major steps involved in conducting research.

(b) Demonstrate an extended understanding of various business research designs and methods, and be able to evaluate and explain their strengths and weaknesses in research designs for particular projects.

(c) Demonstrate a critical appreciation of ethical issues in research and an advanced understanding of appropriate procedures and protocols applicable to these issues.

(d) Critically review and evaluate research literature. (e) Design research for a particular project, explaining

the limitations, advantages, and technical and ethical implications of the techniques employed.

(f) Select, justify and design questions suitable for a survey instrument and be able to analyse survey data in relation to a particular research question.

(g) Prepare a formal research proposal investigating an innovative and/or unresolved research question.

Criteria for Assessment:

 Knowledge and Understanding  Content and exploration of theories and ideas  Analysis, synthesis and critical engagement  Technical skills and referencing

Submission Date: Week 12 Sunday at 11:59pm

Total Mark & Weighting:

40 marks | 40%

Students are advised that any submissions past the due date without an approved extension or approved extenuating circumstances incur a 5% penalty p er calendar day, calculated from the total mark e.g. a task marked out of 40 will incur a 2- mark penalty per calendar day.

Assessment Task Description

Scenario

Organizational citizenship behaviour is defined as employees' behaviours that are discretionary and "not directly or explicitly recognized by the formal reward system, and that in the aggregate promotes the effective functioning of the organization" (Organ, 1988). That is, an employee's favourable behaviour that is not specified in the person's contract and is not an enforceable requirement of the employee's role. Organizational Citizenship Behaviour (OCB), leadership styles, and perceived justice are essential for organizational success. However, these constructs have not been adequately studied together within the small and medium enterprises’ (SMEs) context. Thus, a research is being conducted to assess the effects of leadership styles and perceived justice on organizational citizenship behaviour of employee of SMEs in Sydney, Australia. This study will use the cross-sectional survey as the research design. The convenience sampling technique will be used to select a sample size of 305. Questionnaire will be used to collect the data. Data will be analysed using multiple regression.

Task

Based on the scenario, develop a research ethics proposal to be submitted to the Excelsia College Ethics committee for approval. You must use the Research Ethics Proposal templates attached, for to this assessment.

You must;

1. identify a relevant title for the project 2. Identify and define the research problem

3. State 2 aims for the research 4. Explain the need for and value of the research. 5. List your research questions or hypotheses. 6. Outline the research design and methodology 7. Indicate whether the research is the first stage of a larger project. 8. Who will be approached or recruited to be research participants? How many

participants will be involved in your study? 9. List the selection and, if appropriate to your study, the exclusion criteria for

participants. 10. How will you recruit respondents for your research? 11. How will you provide detailed information about the study to potential

participants? 12. Describe how you will obtain consent to participate from those volunteering as

participants for the research. 13. Detail how will you ensure that participants do not feel under any obligation to

assist you with your research as participants. 14. Describe how you will preserve participants' confidentiality as you collect and

analyse the data and when you report the results 15. If there are any potential risks (physical, emotional, social or legal) to individual

participants' wellbeing (beyond those normally encountered in everyday life) as a result of their involvement in the research, detail the steps that will be taken to address these risks including any support facilities such as counselling, debriefings or referrals.

16. If there are any potential safety implications for yourself as the researcher (beyond those normally encountered in everyday life) please indicate how these will be addressed.

17. If research participants will receive any payment, reimbursement, or other benefits from participation in the research, please detail this and provide a justification for the level of compensation.

18. Describe briefly how the research data will be recorded, for example, audiotape, videotape, or written notes.

19. Describe what you will do with the recorded data once it has been analysed. 20. Specify who apart from yourself (and your supervisors if applicable) will have

access to the research data and results, and any conditions to be placed on that access.

21. Detail who will own the data and the results of your research. 22. Create Timelines of the research study

NB: You must use relevant sources to support your arguments where necessary.

Marking rubrics

Criteria HD (High Distinction) 85%-100%

DN (Distinction) 75%-84%

CR (Credit) 74%-65%

P (Pass) 50%-64%

F (Fail) 0%-49%

Knowledge and Command of Demonstrates Demonstrates Understanding Limited/poor

understanding the topic, command of a well- of understanding

5 marks unusual the topic by informed contemporary demonstrated. Any

creativity, showing understanding academic creative input is

perception and creativity, of the topic by debate, with somewhat off the

insight, all perception and showing some point.

suggesting that insight — a creativity and creative input

work should be serious insight — a and insight, with

published in an contribution to serious a tendency

academic the academic contribution to toward

forum. debate. the academic description.

debate.

Content and

exploration of

theories and ideas

10 marks

Outstanding

selection that

makes a

substantial

contribution to

academic debate.

Outstanding

selection from

a wide relevant

and innovative

range of

perspectives

Selection from

a wide and

relevant

range of

perspectives

and sources

Relevant

selection from a

range of

perspectives

and sources.

Sources are

Narrow selection,

minimal use of

sources, to support the

argument.

and sources. that draws mostly

upon inte grated into

contemporary the overall

academic argument.

debate.

Analysis, Outstanding Sources very Sources well- Mostly clear, Sources are not

synthesis and use of source well integrated

into the overall

argument. Clear

well

structured

argument that is

well crafted and

cogent. Critical

distance and

outstanding

analysis of the

question.

integrated cogent and well-

structured

argument.

Demonstrates

criticality and

generally good

analysis.

properly integrated

into the argument.

Absence of clear

and cogent

argument.

Incomplete analysis

with a tendency to

accept the source

material at face

value.

critical engagement material. into the 15 marks Excellent overall

argument that argument. is of the Clear, cogent

highest and well-

academic structured

quality. Critical

distance and

outstanding

argument.

Critical

distance and sound

analysis of the

question, to a

analysis of the question.

high degree of

excellence.

Technical skills Referencing Referencing Referencing Referencing

sufficiently clear

and using an

appropriate

convention.

Adequate

grammar and

spelling.

References

and referencing impeccable clear and clear and limited/inappropriate.

5marks using accurate using accurate Many errors in

appropriate appropriate using grammar and spelling,

conventions. conventions. appropriate making it difficult or

No errors

grammar

spelling.

in

or

Virtually no errors in

grammar or

spelling.

conventions. Good grammar and spelling.

impossible to read.