Ethical Considerations of the study

Ethical considerations:

The size and sample of this study has been well considered and is not unjustifiably large. As all alumni are from the same university, that that university will be contacted in order to make sure that they are aware of the study and have the opportunity to contribute their own perspective on issues relating to their graduates. However the personal details and opinions offered by any respondent will not be attributed by name to any third party, unless signed permission is sought by the researcher (Charlotte Carey).

The researcher appreciates that the line of enquiry could cross over into what might be considered personal life. Although it is perceived that personal life and circumstances may play a part and have an influence over the participants’ career destination, the researcher will make sure that all lines of enquiry are pertinent to and will not cause undue distress to the respondent. The nature of the study is such that the researcher will have known and may continue to know each of the participants, this is due to the nature of the study, but these relationships will be declared where appropriate throughout the study.

As is common practice by the researcher, participants will be required to complete a consent form, giving their explicit consent to participate in the study, this consent form will fully describes the true nature and purpose of the study (including likely publishing opportunities and dissemination routes). In the case of the online survey (where signed consent may be difficult to acquire) the completion and submission of the survey will be accepted as consent to participate in the study. However the names of the respondents will not be attributed to any data collected unless written permission is sought and then granted.

Participants will be made aware of and given the option to opt out and remove their data from the study at any time they see fit, with no pressure placed on them from the researcher to continue. The participants will remain anonymous throughout the study; the following steps will be taken to ensure the respondents anonymity:

• Transcriptions will be anonymised using coded identifiers
• Individual identifiers will be kept separate from the transcriptions
• Transcriptions of interviews will be stored in a locked cabinet within the university.
• Original recordings of any interviews will be destroyed.
• The researcher will comply with the data protection act in that individual’s details will not be shared and will be stored only for the period of research.

The study has been subject to a risk assessment exercise carried out in order to identify any risk the research might present either to the researcher, participants or the university. The project scored 6 of a potential total of 105 representing a very low risk to all involved.