Business Project Nicos Rodosthenous PhD 28/10/ /10/20141Dr Nicos Rodosthenous

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 person who receives it. 28/10/20142Dr Nicos Rodosthenous

Negotiating access and research ethics 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. 28/10/20143Dr Nicos Rodosthenous

Negotiating access and research ethics 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. 28/10/20144Dr Nicos Rodosthenous

Negotiating access and research ethics 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. 28/10/20145Dr Nicos Rodosthenous

Negotiating access and research ethics 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. 28/10/20146Dr Nicos Rodosthenous

Negotiating access and research ethics 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. 28/10/20147Dr Nicos Rodosthenous

Negotiating access and research ethics  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. 28/10/20148Dr Nicos Rodosthenous

Negotiating access and research ethics  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 address may also facilitate a reply. 28/10/20149Dr Nicos Rodosthenous

Negotiating access and research ethics  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. 28/10/201410Dr Nicos Rodosthenous

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Negotiating access and research ethics 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. 28/10/201413Dr Nicos Rodosthenous

Negotiating access and research ethics 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: 28/10/201414Dr Nicos Rodosthenous

Negotiating access and research ethics  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. 28/10/201415Dr Nicos Rodosthenous

Negotiating access and research ethics  Behavior and objectivity of the researcher  Finally, 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. 28/10/201416Dr Nicos Rodosthenous

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Negotiating access and research ethics 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. 28/10/201418Dr Nicos Rodosthenous

Negotiating access and research ethics 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. 28/10/201419Dr Nicos Rodosthenous

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Negotiating access and research ethics  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. 28/10/201423Dr Nicos Rodosthenous

Negotiating access and research ethics  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 28/10/201424Dr Nicos Rodosthenous

Negotiating access and research ethics 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 28/10/201425Dr Nicos Rodosthenous

Negotiating access and research ethics  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. 28/10/201426Dr Nicos Rodosthenous

Negotiating access and research ethics 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. 28/10/201427Dr Nicos Rodosthenous