Research Design about the effect of Zero contract on unskilled women workers in the UK employment market

Equally, an explorative and exhaustive discussion will be pursued in this paper so that to make it clear the areas, which are likely to be covered when the actual study will be conducted. A pre-visit exercise will be mentioned as a way of preparing both the researcher and the supervisor the circumstances of the sample that will be studied, the sample size that will be used, sample processes, sample procedures, data collection methods, data analysis techniques, and ethical considerations. Moreover, a detailed literature review will form the bulk of this research design. Research Questions 1) Are there more than one contract given in each job? 2) Does the government count the number of women that say they have been employed on a zero hour contract basis? 3) How are the unskilled women affected by zero-hour contracts? 2.

Literature Review Previous studies suggest that zero hour contracts do not give women an assurance of the lowest of hours they can offer their services in a day, week, month, or year. The report based its conclusion on the McDonald’s case study, where employees were asked to select between working on a guaranteed number of hours on a weekly basis and zero hours. Only twenty percent of workers accepted to move to guaranteed hours every week. The other eighty percent preferred being employed on the zero hour system, which also indicated that the levels of satisfaction to both the employees and customer increased in this framework. In the United Kingdom, Labor Force Survey conducts a three-month research on forty thousand households seeking information on the individual’s employment status.

The most common question asked of the employed people during these surveys related to the special working framework that was provided to them on a daily or weekly basis. According to Bordens and Abbott (2013), qualitative technique is a systematic subjective method that is utilized in describing the actual life experiences and circumstances so that to offer them a reasonable meaning. This approach focuses on the activities undertaken by people and explores the distinct nature of every person. However, Leonard and Ambrose (2012)argue that it is a form of enquiring social issues by focusing on the manner in which individuals view and interpret their experiences as well as their environment. The research will adopt qualitative method so that to examine the perspectives, features, activities, feelings, and what people go through on a daily basis, which will equally emphasize the understanding of these components.

The rationale for using the qualitative technique in this study will be to explore and illustrate the opinion of unskilled working mothers in the United Kingdom on how the zero-hour contract impacts their lives. Usually, the researchers might not know the actual number of people before conducting the study; it is possible for the research to change in size and form when the research is ongoing. Therefore, in this case, sampling is continuous and can only be stopped when the saturation point has been attained. In this research, the sum of the unskilled mothers is expected to be forty. The list will be provided to the business owner and the expert. The researcher is expected to coordinate and combine forces with the business owners in selecting the targeted participants who are working on the zero-hour contract.

A pre-visit will be used as a benchmark to settle on the most qualified respondents. c. The research project will be discussed with the potential respondents who will be short-listed to determine whether they are ready to participate in the research. d. The research should then proceed and choose the potential respondents so that they can hold a focus group discussion. According to Bordens and Abbott (2013), in this kind of set up, a researcher can interview the participants that share similar features with an objective of mining ideas, views, and thoughts concerning particular issues or specific topics connected to the research area8. The focus group discussion has numerous advantages including the following; first, it is a less expensive and fast approach to getting valuable information.

Second, workmates find it comfortable to share their thoughts when in each other’s company that when left alone with the researcher (Leonard and Ambrose 2012). Third, the respondents have the opportunity to explore each other’s opinion and give room to agree or disagree. Fourth, the exhaustive interaction among the respondents enhances their thought process and makes them reflect on their feelings regarding the research being explored. The researcher is expected to counter the situational contaminants by using well-ventilated rooms that have enough sources of light. The chairs can be put in a circle so that to ensure the participant’s voices are well recorded. Moreover, a warning sign should be placed outside so that to make sure there is little disturbance in the room.

Second, respondent’s inherent prejudices, where the participants’ characteristics play a central role in impacting the kind of replies they provide to particular inquiries (Leonard and Ambrose 2012). The research should employ a simple interview method; give an elaborated explanation to the respondent’s on the objectives of the study, guaranteed confidentiality, and a signed consent form so that to ensure the aforementioned problems are minimized11. Second, it is easy to clarify unclear issues since the participants and the researcher are allowed to communicate extensively (Bordens and Abbott 2013). Third, it allows users to pursue non-verbal communication when needed. Fourth, it helps in preventing and minimizing the researcher’s bias and assists him or her view the ideas without underlying prejudices. The Framework of the Instrument The guide should be divided into two parts; the first section should allow the researcher gather biographical information and the second segment qualitative data on the unskilled working mothers perspectives on the effect of zero-hour contract12.

Pre-visit The pre-visits and pilot studies are significant in helping the researchers get used to dynamics involved in conducting the research. The researcher should always be open minded so that to motivate the participants to keep on giving information. Interview Technique The researcher should use the following for the focus group discussion14. First, the researcher should create a semi-structured question that will be used for the interview. Second, the researcher must maintain eye contact at all times. The Process of Recording Interview Data As the interview takes place, the researcher should ask the assistants with taking notes and ensuring that a tape recorder captures the required information sufficiently. The researcher is able to make his data sensible to the intended users.

Third, the researcher ought to theorize the interpreted data. Other options and ways of looking at the data 7. Ethical Considerations Ethical considerations capture all the moral standards that must be upheld by the researcher throughout the development of a research paper, methods used in the research, and all the phases of the research design. After the researcher is approved to carry out his or her study, he or she should pursue permission from relevant bodies. Sixth, the principle of human dignity, where the researcher gives the participants the right for self-determination and the right to disclose their thoughts in entirety, thereby they do not twist the data they wish to give17. Seventh, the principle of justice, where the researcher should ensure all the participants are fairly treated and their privacy covered.