Dissertation Proposal Feedback June 2012 (The staff giving feedback may not necessarily be your dissertation supervisor)
STUDENT’S NAME (FIRST NAME & SURNAME)
Sophie Wilson
COURSE
Graphic Design
DISSERTATION TOPIC/TITLE PROPOSED Using the innocent brand as a case study, evaluate whether companies within the food and drinks industry can be truly ethical and sustainable in contemporary, capitalist cultures.
STAFF FEEDBACK This sounds interesting. What are you hoping to get out of the interviews with the innocent HQ staff? Think about your questions. You will have to be careful when asking employees to express opinions about company sensitive information. They may feel compromised. They may not respond honestly for fear of jeopardising their jobs. Are they the best people to interview? Who else could you interview? What are you trying to elicit? What would be most useful to your practice? To make sure your arguments are strong you need to present a balanced and non-bias viewpoint. So find counter arguments to fight against. I look forward to seeing you and discussing it further in September. If you are considering involving any one else in your research ensure you consider the ethics checklist. ‘Ethics’ Research Checklist *
1. Does the research involve human participants? 2. Does the research involve data not in the public domain (i.e. still in copyright)? 3. Does the study involve participants who are particularly vulnerable or unable to give informed consent e.g. (e.g. children, people with learning disabilities, emotional difficulties, problems with understanding and/or communication, students)? Will the study require the co-operation of a gatekeeper for access to participants? (E.g. teacher, local authority) 4. Will it be necessary for participants to take part in the study without their knowledge and consent at the time? (E.g. covert observation of people in non-public places) 5. Will the study involve discussion of sensitive topics (e.g. sexual activity, drug use)? 6. Are there issues of safety for the investigators or subjects? 7. Could the study induce psychological stress or anxiety or cause harm or negative consequences beyond the risks encountered in normal life? 8. Will financial inducements (other than reasonable expenses and compensation for time) be offered to participants? 9. Will the study require the co-operation of a gatekeeper for initial access to the groups or individuals to be recruited (e.g. students at school, members of self-help group, residents of nursing home)? 10. Will deception be necessary, i.e. will participants take part without knowing the true purpose of the study or without their knowledge/consent at the time (e.g. covert observation of people DISSERTATION PROPOSAL - STAFF FEEDBACK JUNE 2012
in non-public places)? 11. Will blood or tissues samples be obtained from participants? 12. Might permission for the study need to be sought from the researcher’s or from participants’ employer 13. Will participants’ anonymity be compromised or their right to anonymity be withheld or information they give be identifiable as theirs? 14. Will participants’ right to withdraw from the study at any time be withheld or not made explicit? *Informed by and with direct reference to the procedures of the Universities of Bolton and Glasgow If you have answered YES to any of questions 1-12 please complete below and submit the form along with a copy of your proposal to the Research and Dissertation Co-ordinator Dr Jill Fernie-Clarke jill.fernie-clarke@leeds-art.ac.uk Project Title Date Researcher/Student Supervisor Summary of issues and action to be taken to address the ethics problem(s)
Please bring a summary of the work you have done over the summer period to your first tutorial Please check Moodle for the date of your first tutorial and confirmation of your supervisor. Link to Dissertation part of Moodle/VLE http://portal.leeds-art.ac.uk/moodle/course/view.php?id=263 It is also important that your College emails are checked regularly. STAFF NAME
Jenny Hutton
DATE
June 2012
DISSERTATION PROPOSAL - STAFF FEEDBACK JUNE 2012