The below vignette describes a hypothetical situation. Please read and answer the following question:

How might you prepare for this and what might your options be in practice? You should underpin your response with supporting research on ‘acting and behaving ethically’ as a researcher.

Scenario

You have been instructed to undertake a piece of research for the company you work for, examining why employees are not satisfied with their jobs. The sample of employees has been provided by the Managing Director (an autocratic leader) and consists of a range of employees, from junior to the most senior of management positions. You are currently a middle level manager; some of the respondents’ report to you but some others are your manager.

As background, there is a general feeling of mistrust within the organisation resulting in high levels of job dissatisfaction. This is a ‘compulsory’ questionnaire with the Managing Director making it clear that all those selected must participate. It is clear to you that respondents have very little idea about the research, have either been co-opted into it with little choice or have volunteered as a way of appeasing the Managing Director, and furthermore have very little to ‘openly’ say on the subject. Nonetheless, you cannot disregard respondents who seem at best co-opted or not interested as the Managing Director is keen to see the results for himself (he has secretly and knowingly to you numbered questionnaires so he can identify respondents by name). From working on similar projects, you knew in advance that this was not an uncommon occurrence.