Running Head: WORKPLACE SAFETY RESEARCH
Workplace Safety Research
Dr. Thomas Hennefer
Ashford University
Salvatore Tuttobene
February 23, 2015
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WORKPLACE SAFETY RESEARCH
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Social scholars Heppner, Wampold and Kivlighan (2008) argue that; a research that
involves people, data from and about them must be conducted ethically. A research is deemed as
being ethical if the researcher protects the privacy of the participants and any data that might
have been derived or collected about them (Luppicini, 2010). The research project selected is on
workplace safety for employees. Workplace safety is important since it ensures that the
organization can take proper measures to address work-related illnesses and injuries. It is an
important job management and all the stakeholders. The research project will look at whether the
rights accorded to the workers through a health policy as guided by the occupational safety and
health act are fully implemented. They ensure that workers do not suffer death or other harms
that will disable them. The Act also enhances protective workplace safety and health standards
(Grinnell & Unrau, 2007).
The Hypothesis:
The hypothesis of this research is that poor workplace safety leads to low quality
production. Based on this; it is evident that the low quality of the products on the other hand will
therefore reduce revenue and incomes of the organization. This shows how such poor quality
lowers the employee likeliness to improve the quality in turn making it hard to replace the
original revenues and profit.
Possible Types of Secondary Data Used For Hypothesis Testing:
Research experts argue that; one of the major goals of safety research is to test for
linkages or causal relationships between (Vartanian, 2011). Firstly; it is important to define
secondary sources. Experts say secondary sources refer to data that already exists as well as data
which was gathered for purposes rather than current research project. Based on this research, the
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possible types of secondary data used for hypothesis testing include the internet, both internal
and external sources as well as government data (Patzer, 1995).
The internet has proved to be the most effective secondary source of information and
therefore; it is evident that it would be the most essential type of secondary data that could be
used to test the hypothesis of this research (Patzer, 1995). The internet provides broad diversity
of information and this shows why it is the ideal source of secondary source (Vartanian, 2011).
According to this research, it is clear that possible measurement benchmarks and scales
used for hypothesis testing include excessive reliability of these sources. Based on this; it is clear
that this survey should include measurement benchmarks and scales to test the hypothesis. One
of the main arguments that can define the essence of measurement benchmarks and scales in this
survey is the ability to accommodate and foster for flexibility and therefore; this can be cited as a
major reason why these measurement benchmarks and scales would be useful in this endeavor.
There have been several problems related to workplace safety (Luppicini, 2010). The
main problem, however, is that organization does not have a workplace safety policy. A system
can assure workers of their health and security measures. Particularly the research will look at
workplace safety measures for employees, and the actions taken to ensure the necessary safety of
workers. There is a feeling that the organizations have not adequately addressed the workplace
safety and thus the high rates of turnover in the last few years (Grinnell & Unrau, 2007).
The research question is how the workplace safety has affected the employees in the
organization (Grinnell & Unrau, 2007). The problem, in this case, will be helpful in helping to
determine the underlying issues that might be related to workplace safety in the organization.
The hypothesis is that, the organization has not fully implemented the workplace safety and thus
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employees are feeling unsafe in their workplace and thus not willing to continue working for the
organization (Luppicini, 2010).
There are some other researchers who have been able to relate the turnover with, and the
increase of the unsafe workplaces. Some of the researchers have identified that in the United
States there have been more than 5000 fatalities (average) in a year. Non-fatal occupation
injuries together with work-related illnesses have been even gone up to four million at some
instant. This has given researchers a base to study workplace safety and information regarding
the topic. They have found that organizations have been unable to take clear measures, to guide
the behavioral motivated workplace safety; they have not been able to address it in fullness
(Robson, et.al 2007). Lastly, researchers have not taken on analyzing the situations that can
bring the safety programs and to address the issues using amicable means.
The quest for ethical research in workplace research is a necessity within the construction
industry, however; it possesses significant ethical challenges such as working and living by
required behaviors. It has emerged that integrity and ethics have become arguably hard in today's
hectic professional working world (Wasserman, et.al 200). Based on the continued pressures that
are being placed upon professionals of the construction industry, it has become hard for them to
act or do things the way they are supposed to do (Kimmel, 2007).
In regards to preliminary thoughts about the research design; it is evident that qualitative
research design will be more appropriate. Basically; this kind of analysis is performed when a
researcher wants to describe as well as understand experience, get the concept of and meanings,
look at ideas, beliefs, as well as values among other things (Heppner, Wampold & Kivlighan,
2008).
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There are more than a few ideas about how one can approach as well as sample data for
their research (Kimmel, 2007). For example; one can do so by making an informed decision
based on their methodology. Secondly; one can do this by developing questions or hypothesis
which will then reflect on the feasibility of their ideas. Based on this; the research will approach
sampling data for by first paying close attention to any descriptions which may appear in the
illustrative examples as well as charts on every single task that I perform. Furthermore; it will be
vital to keep on making informed consent or decision on my own methodologies by taking into
account my questions, hypothesis, procedures, as well as feasibility of my ideas (Luppicini,
2010).
Based on the fact collecting data can be quite costly and time-consuming; the research
will be done by having limited number of people, as well as less traveling. And this means using
very limited number of persons or organizations that will be used in the research.
CONCLUSION:
To sum it up, most people would agree with the fact that the urge of adhering to the
professional ethics in workplace safety research is innate as highlighted in this essay (Kimmel,
2007). These outcomes are arguably essential for encouraging safety professionals to comply
with the principles of ethics in the quest to establish and carry out an informed and conclusive
research. Based on this; we can conclude without an iota of doubt that it is necessary to
professionals to learn to practice the knowledge of ethics using applicable codes and standards.
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References
Grinnell, R. M., & Unrau, Y. A. (2007). Social work research and evaluation: Foundations in
evidence-based practice. New York: Oxford University Press.
Heppner, P. P., Wampold, B. E., & Kivlighan, D. M. (2008). Research design in counseling.
Belmont, CA: Thomson Brooks/Cole.
Kimmel, A. J. (2007). Ethical issues in behavioral research: Basic and applied perspectives.
Oxford, UK: Blackwell Pub.
Luppicini, R. (2010). Technoethics and the evolving knowledge society: Ethical issues in
technological design, research, development, and innovation. Hershey, PA: Information
Science Reference.
Patzer, G. L. (1995). Using secondary data in marketing research: United States and worldwide.
Westport, Conn: Quorum Books.
Robson, L. S., Clarke, J. A., Cullen, K., Bielecky, A., Severin, C., Bigelow, P. L.,& Mahood,
Q. (2007). The effectiveness of occupational health and safety management system
interventions: a systematic review. Safety Science, 45(3), 329-353.
Vartanian, T. P. (2011). Secondary data analysis. New York: Oxford University Press.
Wasserman, Barry L, Gregory Palermo, & Patrick Sullivan(2000)Ethics and the Practice of
Architecture. New York.
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