This document summarizes key points from Chapter 6 of the book "Research Methods for Business Students" regarding negotiating access and research ethics. It discusses gaining access to organizations and data, strategies for access, and potential ethical issues at different stages of research, including issues around participant consent and data collection, processing, analysis and reporting. Checklists are provided to help anticipate and address access and ethical concerns.

1. Slide 6.1
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
Chapter 6
Negotiating access and research ethics

2. Slide 6.2
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009

3. Slide 6.3
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009

4. Slide 6.4
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009

5. Slide 6.5
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009

6. Slide 6.6
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009

7. Slide 6.7
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009

8. Slide 6.8
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
Gaining access to data (1)
Physical access – key issues
• Organisations may not wish to allocate resources
• Requests for access may not be of sufficient interest
• Failure to reach those who can give permission
• Concerns about sensitivity and confidentiality
• Perceptions about the researcher’s credibility
• Doubts about the researcher’s competence

9. Slide 6.9
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
Gaining access to data (2)
Points to consider
• Access as an iterative process
• Obtaining consent from managers and participants
• Obtaining cognitive access
• The nature and extent of the required access
• Obtaining sufficient scope to answer the research
question

10. Slide 6.10
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
Gaining access to data (3)
Virtual access - four types of online community
• Bulletin boards for particular products or services
• Independent web pages
• Themed email lists
• Multiuser chat rooms
Adapted from Kozinets (2002)

11. Slide 6.11
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
Gaining access to data (4)
Checklist Box 6.8
Complete the Checklist in Box 6.8
to help you gain access
Saunders et al. (2009)

12. Slide 6.12
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
Strategies to gain access (1)
Areas for consideration
• Ensuring familiarity and understanding
• Allowing sufficient time
• Using existing contacts and developing new ones
• Giving a clear account of purpose

13. Slide 6.13
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
Strategies to gain access (2)
Areas for consideration
• Overcoming organisational concerns
• Identifying possible organisational benefits
• Appropriate forms of communication
• Incremental access
• Establishing researcher credibility

14. Slide 6.14
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009

15. Slide 6.15
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009

16. Slide 6.16
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
Research Ethics (1)
Definition
‘The appropriateness of your behaviour in
relation to the rights of those who become the
subject of or are affected by your work’
Adapted from Saunders et al. (2009)

17. Slide 6.17
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009

18. Slide 6.18
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009

19. Slide 6.19
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
Research Ethics (2)
Ethical issues at different stages of research
Source: Saunders et al. (2009)
Figure 6.1 Ethical issues at different stages of research (part 1)

20. Slide 6.20
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
Research Ethics (3)
Ethical issues at different stages of research
Source: Saunders et al. (2009)
Figure 6.1 Ethical issues at different stages of research (part 2)

21. Slide 6.21
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
Research Ethics (4)
Two philosophical standpoints of business
and management research
• Deontological
• Teleological

22. Slide 6.22
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
Research Ethics (5)
Research conduct is affected by
• Code of ethics
• Research ethics committees
• General ethical issues
• Netiquette

23. Slide 6.23
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
Research Ethics (6)
Issues during design and gaining access
• Obtaining consent - implied and informed
• Using participant information sheets
• Consent for observation and online observation

24. Slide 6.24
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
Research Ethics (7)
The nature of participant consent
Source: Saunders et al. (2009)
Figure 6.2 The nature of participant consent

25. Slide 6.25
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
Research Ethics (8)
Issues during data collection
• General issues applying to techniques
• Awareness of participant’s rights
• Keeping to the project aims
• Safety of the researcher

26. Slide 6.26
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
Research Ethics (9)
Issues during data collection
• Maintaining objectivity, confidentiality and
anonymity
• Appropriate interview behaviour
• Use of observation techniques
• Undertaking a covert study

27. Slide 6.27
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
Data processing and storage
Personal data must be
• Processed fairly and lawfully
• Obtained for specified purposes
• Adequate and relevant
• Accurate, updated and kept securely
Adapted from Saunders et al. (2009)

28. Slide 6.28
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
Data analysis and reporting
Related issues
• Sensitive personal data
• Confidentiality and anonymity
• Protection of research participants
• Ethical use of data analysis and conclusions

29. Slide 6.29
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
Dealing with ethical issues
Checklist Box 6.18
Complete the Checklist in Box 6.18
to help you anticipate and deal with
ethical issues
Saunders et al. (2009)

30. Slide 6.30
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009

31. Slide 6.31
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
Summary: Chapter 6
• Access and ethics are critical aspects of research
• Access may be physical, cognitive or continuing
• Feasibility is an important determinant
• Potential ethical issues should be recognised

32. Slide 6.32
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
Summary: Chapter 6
• Ethical concerns can occur throughout the research
• Both qualitative and quantitative research have
associated ethical issues
• Use of the Internet and email for data generation
raises specific ethical issues
• Data protection legislation requires researchers to
comply with legal requirements