UKZN HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES RESEARCH ETHICS COMMITTEE (HSSREC)
APPLICATION FOR ETHICS APPROVAL For research with human participants
Information Sheet and Consent to Participate in Research Date: / /
Greetings,
My name is Rudzani Meryl Mutibi from (the University of KwaZulu-Natal, College of Law and Management Studies, School of Management, Information Technology and Governance, Human Resource department, +27(0) 607113223, rudzani.mutibi@gmail.com.
You are being invited to consider participating in a study that involves research on the Implications of Human Resource practices on employee commitment at the University of KwaZulu-Natal institution of higher education. The aim and purpose of this research will firstly be to investigate the relationship of the implications of Human Resource practices on employee commitment at institutions of higher education. Secondly the focus of the study will be to understand the extent to which discretionary HR practices at the UKZN institution of higher education influence organisational commitment. Thirdly to evaluate the importance of transactional HR practices on employee commitment at UKZN. Lastly, to investigate if there is a relationship between demographic characteristics and employee commitment in higher-level education institutions. Hence, you have been identified as a possible participant for the research as you are a staff member of the UKZN higher education institution.
The study is expected to include approximately 80 participants in total, from the College of Law and Management Studies, School of Management, Information Technology and Governance at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville campus. The data collection procedure involves the single administration of a questionnaire. The questionnaires will consist of a section establishing the demographical information of the respondent as well as the research instruments such as the Discretionary and Transactional HR Practices scale along with the Organisational Commitment Questionnaire (OCQ). The duration of your participation if you choose to participate and remain in the study is expected to be approximately 15-20 minutes. The study is funded by the researcher, R.M. Mutibi.
The study has zero to very little estimated risks and/or discomforts as the area of research does not explore into any deeply confidential or traumatic experiences. The researcher will, however, be available to discuss any issues or concerns that you may have as you fill in the questionnaire. We hope that the study will create benefits to participants and HR managers as it may help HR managers to design an environment in which employees develop favourable attitudes, resulting in higher performance. Furthermore, it may benefit employees/participants by making them aware of the various discretionary and transactional HR practices as well as help them know which HR practices could effectively assist them towards maintaining or increasing their employee commitment. The study may also enhance the knowledge and awareness of workers, HR managers and relevant authorities on whether HR practices implemented at UKZN have any impacts or implications on the levels of organisational or job commitment at UKZN as well as broadly at higher education institution in South Africa and globally. Hence the study may inform HR departments, the College of Law and Management Studies, School of Management, Information Technology and Governance as well as higher education institutions in creating and implementing HR practices and policies that are effective for productivity, decreased employee turnover, as well as for the enhancement of substantial overall organisational commitment amongst employees.
Participants may also fill in their questionnaires electronically and email them back to the researcher within 24 hours from the day of receipt of the questionnaire as long as they will fill in all the required information, as well as sign and date their questionnaires. The researcher may also leave the questionnaire with the participant and make arrangements with the participant to collect the questionnaire within 24 hours from the day of receipt of the questionnaire by the participant.
This study has been ethically reviewed and approved by the UKZN Humanities and Social Sciences Research Ethics Committee (approval number: HSS/0017/017M).
In the event of any problems or concerns/questions you may contact the researcher at +27(0) 607113223, rudzani.mutibi@gmail.com or the UKZN Humanities & Social Sciences Research Ethics Committee, contact details as follows:
Mrs Mariette Snyman
Humanities and Social Science Ethics (HSSREC) Research Office,
Govan Mbeki Building, Westville Campus, Private Bag X54001, DURBAN 4000 Tel: 031 260 8350 Snymanm@ukzn.ac.za
Researcher: Miss Rudzani Meryl Mutibi, +27(0) 607113223/+27(0) 765554612 Supervisor: Mrs. Jayrusha Ramasamy- Gurayah, 031-2608713
Your participation in the study is voluntary and by participating, you are granting the researcher permission to use your responses. You may refuse to participate or withdraw from the study at any time with no negative consequence. There will be no monetary gain from participating in the study. Your anonymity will be maintained by the researcher and the School of Management, I.T. & Governance and your responses will not be used for any purposes outside of this study.
All data, both electronic and hard copy, will be securely stored during the study and archived for 5 years. After this time, all data will be destroyed.
If you have any questions or concerns about participating in the study, please contact me or my research supervisor at the numbers listed above.
Sincerely
Rudzani Meryl Mutibi ---
CONSENT TO PARTICIPATE
I ……….…….. have been informed about the study entitled the implications of Human Resource practices on employee commitment at the University of KwaZulu-Natal institution of higher education by Miss Rudzani Meryl Mutibi.
I understand the purpose and procedures of the study.
I have been given an opportunity to ask questions about the study and have had answers to my satisfaction.
I declare that my participation in this study is entirely voluntary and that I may withdraw at any time without affecting any of the benefits that I usually am entitled to.
I have been informed about any compensation or medical treatment if injury occurs to me as a result of study-related procedures.
If I have any further questions/concerns or queries related to the study I understand that I may contact the researcher at, +27(0) 607113223, rudzani.mutibi@gmail.com.
If I have any questions or concerns about my rights as a study participant, or if I am concerned about an aspect of the study or the researchers then I may contact:
Mrs Mariette Snyman
Humanities and Social Science Ethics (HSSREC) Research Office,
Govan Mbeki Building, Westville Campus, Private Bag X54001, DURBAN 4000 Tel: 031 260 8350 Snymanm@ukzn.ac.za
Researcher: Miss Rudzani Meryl Mutibi, +27(0) 607113223/+27(0) 765554612 Supervisor: Mrs. Jayrusha Ramasamy- Gurayah, 031-2608713
Additional consent, where applicable I hereby provide consent to:
Audio-record my interview / focus group discussion YES / NO Video-record my interview / focus group discussion YES / NO
Use of my photographs for research purposes YES / NO
____________________ ____________________
Signature of Participant Date
____________________ _____________________
Signature of Witness Date (Where applicable)
________________ _____________________
Signature of Translator Date
(Where applicable)
Appendix 5: Questionnaire