business project nicos rodosthenous phd 28/10/2014 4 28/10/20141dr nicos rodosthenous

Dr Nicos Rodosthenous 1

Business ProjectNicos Rodosthenous PhD

28/10/20144

28/10/2014


Negotiating access and research ethics

• 1. Introduction• Access and ethics are critical issues for the

conduct of a research.• 2.Problems associated with access• Your ability to collect data will depend on

gaining access to the appropriate sources.• The first level of access is physical access. • Second, the request may fail to interest the

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• Third, the organization may find itself totally unrelated to any perception about the nature of the request and finally to refuse access.

• Where you are unable to gain this type of access, you will need to modify your research question and objectives.

• Physical access to an organization is normally granted by the management.

• However, you will need to get informal acceptance by a number of staff of the organization and gain access to the data that they are really able to provide.

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• Access is also refers to your ability to get secondary data from various organizations.

• i.e. tourism statistics from the CTO or the Ministry of Tourism.

• Two more specific issues:• 1) if you have sufficiently considered the extent and

nature of the access that you will require to answer your question and meet your objectives.

• 2) if your are able to gain sufficient access in practice to answer your question and meet your objectives.

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• Fieldwork is permeated with the conflict between what is theoretically desirable on the one hand and what is practically possible on the other hand.

• The reality of a research project is to consider the ability to gain access and to develop a topic to fit the nature of that access.

• The nature of these problems of access will vary in relation to your status as a full-time or a part-time student.

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• As a full-time student approaching an organization you will be considered as an external researcher.

• As a part-time student or an organizational employee operating in the role of an internal or participant researcher you are likely to face again problems of access to data.

• 3. Strategies to gain access• Will enable you to get personal entry to an

organization but with less applicability on postal questionnaire.

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• These strategies will also vary in relation to your status as an internal or an external researcher.

• 3.1 Summary of strategies to gain access: Allowing yourself sufficient time: for an interview

meeting to be arranged at a convenient time for your research participant.

Using existing contacts and developing new ones: you are more likely to gain access where you are able to use existing contacts, where we have a friend, relative or student working in the organization.

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Providing a clear account of purpose and type of access required: will allow your intended participants to be aware of what will be required from them, not by telephone but in writing with a well-designed and presented letter.

Overcoming organizational concerns about the granting of access: 1) about the amount of time or resources that will be involved in the request of access 2) is related to sensitivity about the topic 3) is related to the confidentiality of the data that will be provided and the anonymity of the organization/participants.

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Possible benefits to the organizations of granting you access: to offer a report of your findings to those who grant access.

They also suggest that feedback about this report will help you further with your research

Using suitable language: will depend largely on the nature of the contacting people.

Facilitating ease of reply when requesting access: include a stamped or freepost addressed envelope, a draft letter to reply, or a fax number or email address may also facilitate a reply.

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Developing your access on an incremental basis: includes a three-stage strategy 1) involves a request to conduct interviews 2) negotiating access to undertake observation 3) gaining permission to tape-record the interactions being observed.

Establishing your credibility with intended participants: you will need to share with them the purpose of your research project, state how you believe they will be able to help your study, and provide assurances about confidentiality and anonymity.

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• 4. Research ethics• 4.1 Defining research ethics: ethical concerns will

emerge as you plan your research, seek access to organizations and to people, collect, analyze and report your data in relation to the rights or personal data of those who become the subject of your research or are affected by.

• A code of ethics will provide you with a statement of principles and procedures for the conduct of your research.

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• You may also be required to submit your research proposal to a faculty or research ethics committee.

• 4.2 Nature and scope of ethical issues in business and management: ethical issues that arise during the design stage and when seeking initial access.

• Ethical issues that affect the research process generally: a number of key ethical issues across the stages and duration of a research project:

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Privacy of possible and actual participants Voluntary nature of participation and the right to

withdraw partially or completely from the process Consent and possible deception of participants Maintenance of the confidentiality of data provided by

people Reactions of participants to the way in which you seek

to collect data Effects on participants of the way in which you use,

analyze and report your data.

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Behavior and objectivity of the researcherFinally, privacy may be seen as the cornerstone of

the ethical issues that confront those who undertake research.

Consideration of points included in Box 5.3 below, provides sufficient evidence that this is an area to be treated with great concern and which is likely to require continuous evaluation and to take appropriate action at each stage of your research.

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• 4.2 Ethical issues during the design and initial access stages: ethical problems should be anticipated and dealt with during the design stage of any research project.

• Access to secondary data may also raise ethical problems in relation to privacy.

• If someone agrees to participate in a data collection method, this does not necessarily imply consent about the way in which the data provided are used.

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• For example, a research is conducted with those who have agreed to participate can still involve an attempt to deceive them in some way.

• As a result is to deceit over the real purpose of the research or related with another organization that will use any data gained for commercial advantage.

• You will also need to operate on the basis that informed consent is a continuing requirement.

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Ethical issues during the data collection stage• Irrespective of method the data collection stage

is associated with a range of ethical issues.• A general ethical principle is related to the

maintenance of your objectivity.• Once promises about confidentiality and

anonymity have been given it is also of great importance to make sure that are maintained.

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Ethical issues related to the analysis and reporting stages Objectivity again will be vital during the analysis and

reporting stage to make sure that you do not misrepresent the data collected.

The use of secondary data leads also to ethical concerns and you will need to consider these in the way in which you make use of it.

Data protection and research: an introduction The Directive 95/46/EC of the European Union provides

protection for individuals in relation

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• to the processing of personal data and the movement of such data.

• Where you process and control this type of data your work will become subject to the provisions of the data protection legislation of the country in which you live.

Thus, personal data must be: Processed fairly and lawfully Obtained for specified, explicit and lawful purposes

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Relevant and not excessive to the purpose for which they are processed

Accurate and up to date Kept for no longer than is necessary Kept securely Not transferred to a country outside the EU

unless there is an adequate level of protection.

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• In addition, there is a further category of personal data, known as sensitive data, like ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or other similar beliefs.

• These legally based protection concerns will be likely to focus all researchers’ minds on the question of keeping personal data and which allows any participant to be identified.

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business project nicos rodosthenous phd 28/10/2014 4 28/10/20141dr nicos rodosthenous

Documents

problems of access

physical access

sufficient access

type of access

level of access

research question

research participant

research ethicsproviding