Ethical Approval Application Form, modified Spring 2012 TPM

Approval Code:
E1- APPLICATION FORM FOR APPROVAL TO CONDUCT RESEARCH
BUSINESS SCHOOL ETHICS COMMITTEE

Dept/School
and unit code:

Please select Postgraduate Project ☐ Undergraduate Project ☐

(Double click on the box then click ‘Checked’ for a cross to appear in the box)

The effectiveness of integrating social media within IMC (integrated marketing communication) in the
services sector to improve client engagement and retention - Stunited Community Interest Company

Project Title:

Researchers Name(s):

Supervisor(s):

Date:

Applications should be submitted electronically to the Secretary of the School Research Ethics Committee as one single
file. One original hard copy must also be submitted with the signatures of all applicants and Supervisors.

Rationale: Please give a BRIEF description of the project in ‘lay language’. This summary will be reviewed by UREC
and may be published as part of its reporting procedures.
The issue on which the research study mainly focused is the effectiveness of integrating social
media within the integrated marketing communication strategy of the Stunited Community
Interest Company. The business competitiveness in the service sector industries of the UK has
increased significantly in recent years. The satisfaction of the customer needs and their active
engagement in the overall business process determines the success of the business in the
competitive market scenario.

Page 1
 Ethical Approval Application Form, modified Spring 2012 TPM

Ethical Considerations: Please give a BRIEF description of the ethical considerations of this project. Please mention
questions raised specifically in the form and, where appropriate, show that the basic ethical criteria have been met in any
use of (a) participant information sheets (b) consent forms (c) debriefing procedures.

This summary will be forwarded to and reviewed by UREC and may be published as part of its reporting procedures.

● What is the importance of the integration of social media within the integrated marketing
communication strategy of the service sector organization in the UK?

● How do the modern service sector enterprises benefit from the effective IMC strategy of
the company?

● What are the potential implications that lie on the path of integrating social media in the
IMC strategy of the company?

Page 2
 Ethical Approval Application Form, modified Spring 2012 TPM
Section A: PROJECT INFORMATION

1. Estimated start date.

When do you plan to begin your project?

2. Estimated duration.

How long do you think it will take?

3. Does this research proposal involve...

3a. Potential conflicts of interest, eg. roles in research, intellectual property,
responsibilities of funders, research with policy or other social implications etc? Yes ☐ No ✓

3b. Only unpublished data obtained with the permission of the owner/archive curator?
Yes ☐ No ✓

3c. Primary data collection (obtained through interviews, surveys, observation, etc...)?
Yes ✓ No ☐
If you answer ‘YES’ to any of these questions (3a 3b or 3c), you should elaborate in Q27.

4. Is this research proposal exclusively concerned with...

Only published secondary data sources (eg, material already in the public domain)*?
*Yes ☐ No ✓
*If you answer ‘YES’ to Q4, go directly to Q. 26, and Q. 27 🡺

5. Your informants...

100 consumers of Stunited Community

5a. Who are the intended participants? (eg. students)
Interest Company

Directly contact with social media accounts

5b. How will you recruit them?

6. Estimated duration of participants’ involvement...

(Eg, questionnaire 10 mins, Interview 20 mins, etc.) 15 MIN

7. Location of Research/Fieldwork to be conducted:

7a. Where will you conduct your research? (eg, LRC foyer) Online mode

7b. Do you need to secure permission to conduct research at this location?

Yes ☐ *No ✓

Page 3
 Ethical Approval Application Form, modified Spring 2012 TPM

*If you answered ‘NO’, say why permission is not needed.

8. Is this research funded by an external sponsor or agency?

Yes ☐ No ✓

If ‘YES’ please provide the name(s) and elaborate in Q. 27

Section B: ETHICAL CHECKLIST

For Qs 9-21, tick the box to show if your answer is YES, NO or Not Applicable. Please elaborate in Q. 27 if necessary.
If you tick ‘NO’ to any question 9-21, please give a brief explanation in Q. 27.
If you answer ‘YES’, it must be clearly illustrated in the relevant paperwork which must be attached
(ie, Participant Information Sheet, Consent Form, Debriefing Form, Questionnaires, Advertisement, etc…)

Yes ☐ No ☐ N/A ✓
9. Have you obtained permission to access99 the site of research?

If YES, provide the name, position and business address of the person. Also, give the name of the organisation.

A letter of confirmation is to be attached to this form.

Yes No N/A
10. Does this research entail collaboration with other researchers?
☐ ✓
If YES, provide the names and institutions of your collaborators.

11. Collaborative projects.

☐ ☐ ✓
11a. If the research is collaborative, have you considered issues to do with roles in
research publication strategies/authorship?
11b. If the research is collaborative, have you devised a framework to ensure that all
☐ ☐ ✓
participants are given appropriate recognition in any outputs?

12. Volition. Will you tell participants that their participation is voluntary?
☐ ☐ ✓

13. Informed Consent. Will you describe the procedures to participants in advance so that
✓ ☐
they can make an informed decision about whether or not to participate?

14. The right to withdraw. Will you tell participants that they may withdraw from the
✓ ☐
research at any time and for any reason, without having to give an explanation?

15. Written consent. Will you obtain written consent from participants?
☐ ☐ ✓

16. Recording. If the research involves making recordings (manuscript, digital, audio or
☐ ☐ ✓
video), will you ask participants for their consent to be observed, videoed or taped?

Page 4
 Ethical Approval Application Form, modified Spring 2012 TPM
17. Confidentiality. Will you tell participants that their data will be treated with full ✓ ☐
confidentiality and that if published, it will not be identifiable as theirs?

18. Data Security. Will participants be clearly informed of how the data will be stored, who ✓ ☐
will have access to it, and when the data will be destroyed?

19. Debriefing. Will you debrief participants at the end of their participation, i.e. give them a ✓ ☐
brief explanation in writing of the study?

20. Omission. With interviews and questionnaires, will you give participants the option of ✓ ☐ ☐
omitting questions they do not want to answer?

21. Relationships. Are any of the participants in a dependent relationship with the
☐ ✓
investigator (eg lecturer/student)?
If YES, please give full explanation in Q27.

Section C: RISK AND SAFETY

For Qs 22-25, tick the box to show if your answer is YES, or NO. You should elaborate in Q. 27 where appropriate.

Yes No
22. Deception. Will your project involve deliberately misleading participants in any way?
☐ ✓
If YES, explain in Q. 27 why it is necessary and how debriefing will occur.

23. Risk to Participant(s). Is there any realistic risk to any paid or unpaid participant, field
☐ ✓
assistant, helper or student involved in the project? (Nb, ‘risk’ means experiencing any
physical, psychological distress or discomfort)

If YES, please explain in Q.27, saying what you will do if they should
experience any problems, eg who to contact for help.

24. Risk to Researcher(s) Is there any realistic risk to the investigator?

☐ ✓
If YES, have the appropriate risk assessment forms been submitted to
the appropriate Safety Committee(s)?

☐ ✓
25. Risk of Harm or Damage. Do you think the results of your research have the potential to
cause any damage, harm or other problems for people in your study area?

If YES, explain in Q. 27 why it is necessary and how debriefing will occur

Section D: WORKING WITH CHILDREN/VULNERABLE PEOPLE

For Qs 26a-g, tick the box to show if your answer is YES, or NO. You must elaborate in Q. 27 any ‘YES response in this section.

26. Vulnerable individuals. Do participants in this study fall into any of the following special groups?
If they do, please tick the appropriate answer, refer to the relevant guidelines and complete Q.27.
Yes No

a. Children (under 18 years of age). ☐ ✓

b. People with learning or communication difficulties. ☐ ✓

Page 5
 Ethical Approval Application Form, modified Spring 2012 TPM

c. Patients (including careers of NHS patients). ☐ ✓

d. People in custody. ☐ ✓

e. Institutionalised persons. ☐ ✓

f. People engaged in illegal activities, eg drug-taking. ☐ ✓

g. Other vulnerable groups. (please specify)

Existing active customers of the company ✓ ☐

There is an obligation on the Lead Researcher & Supervisor to bring to the attention of the School Ethics Committee
(S.E.C.) any issues with ethical implications not clearly covered by the above checklist.

Page 6
 Ethical Approval Application Form, modified Spring 2012 TPM

Section E: ETHICAL STATEMENT

27. Write a clear but concise statement of the ethical considerations of this project, clearly stating how you intend
to address each of them.

The researcher is focused on several sources of knowledge from different theoretical models. The
selective methods of the research will help readers to understand the reliability and the relevance
of the collective data. The researcher will maintain privacy of the respondents and none of the
responders will be forced to take part in the survey. The researcher has paid attention to ethical
consideration in the research work. Researcher have paid attention to abide by the data protection
act 2018 while working in the research. At the same time, the researcher in this research has
maintained the reliability and relevance of the data. Furthermore, the researcher has also been
conscious that they can avoid any controversy due to the research work and focused to maintain
the ethnicity in the research.

28. Assuring Confidentiality. As we regard informants’ consent to be finite, please say how and where you will
store your data (to guard against accidental data loss) and the date by which your data will be destroyed
(usually, within 6 months after the completion of your course).

Protecting data

Page 7
 Ethical Approval Application Form, modified Spring 2012 TPM

Page 8
 Ethical Approval Application Form, modified Spring 2012 TPM

Section E: DECLARATION

I, the researcher declare that...

No ☐ Yes
✓

(i) I am familiar with the ……………... (insert appropriate guidelines for your discipline,
eg BPS, ESRC, BAAL, MRC and ASA) Guidelines for Ethical Research Guidelines
for Research practices, and I have discussed them with all researchers involved
in this project.

(ii) I have attached all relevant paperwork linked to this project.

(Nb, supervisors may need to seek guidance before giving approval.)

(iii) I understand that any substantive changes to this proposal will require
No ☐ Yes
✓

a new application to the School Ethics Committee.

Researcher(s)

Signature

Date

Supervisors must ensure they have read both the application and the guidelines before signing below.

Supervisor(s)

Signature

dd/mm/year
No ☐ Yes ☐
Date

OFFICIAL USE ONLY

STATEMENT OF ETHICAL APPROVAL

Page 9
 Ethical Approval Application Form, modified Spring 2012 TPM

This project has been considered using agreed University Procedures and has been:
☐ Not Approved ☐ Approved
☐ More Clarification Required
☐ New Submission Recommended
☐ Referred to UREC

Convener’s Name

Signature

dd/mm/year
Date:

Adapted by TM Nov 2011 from: http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/utrec/SCHOOLFORMS/index.shtml

Page 10