Cairo University

Faculty of Commerce
Business Administration

THE ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS IN SOCIAL SCIENCE

RESEARCH IN BUSINESS
A project submitted as a partial satisfaction of the requirements for passing
research methodology module

Prepared by: Nourhan Mohamed Amin

Rawda
Salma
Shorouk Osama

Submitted to: Prof. Amira Fouad

The Arab Republic of Egypt – 2023

Table of Contents
3.0 Type 3 of Ethical Considerations: Informed Consent
Informed refers to a situation in which all potential participants receive and understand
all the information they need to decide whether they want to participate or not. Moreover, it
provides all information that a person needs to make an informed decision about taking part in
the study. Furthermore, an informed consent can be written or verbal.

Moreover, an informed consent is the very first stage in collecting data which is taking
permission of participants to include them in the study. Not to mention, an informed consent
should provide the research description that include 1) objectives of research, procedure and
duration.

In this regard, an example of an informed consent in a questionnaire is shown in figure

(1) at which the authors have stated their research objectives which is to study the reputation of
(McDonald’s) in Egypt. Then the authors have stated the procedure which is that the reputation
will be measured on a set of factors that they find in the survey. Moreover, the authors have
stated the duration which is no longer than 10 minutes.

Figure (1), Example of Questionnaire Informed Consent

 In addition, as another example of informed consent is shown in figure (2) at which the
researcher is asking whether participants are interested or not in receiving calls for further
research.

Figure (2), Example of Questionnaire Informed Consent

4.0 Type 4 of Ethical Considerations: Confidentiality

Confidentiality refers to that the data collected from participants will only be used for
research purposes and that they will be kept confidential. This also refers that data are not going
to be shared with any third party under any circumstances.

Furthermore, confidentiality refers to the researcher (s) taking actions to prevent

participants’ identities from being revealed to others. This can be achieved through anonymity.

Not to mention, the researcher should state that any data collected are confidential before
starting to collect data as a way for assurance of confidentiality as illustrated in figure (1).