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The Survey Lab is a division of Portland Research Group dedicated to quality
collection and analysis of consumer attitudes, experiences, and intended
behavior. We collect data on an ongoing basis on any number of topics and
channel the resulting information back to companies. With this
information, companies are able to improve the quality of their products and
services resulting in a better experience for everyone involved.
The Survey Lab adheres to a strict set of data collection
standards adopted from those set forth by The Market Research Association (www.mra-net.org).
Pursuant to the basic principals of the
code of standards, The Survey Lab will:
- Conduct research in an honest and
ethical manner
- Instill confidence in research and
encourage public cooperation
- Instill confidence in the business
community that research is done in a professional and fair manner
- Carry out every research project in
accordance with the Code
- Respect the general public
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Responsibility to respondents... |
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I. In Data Collection
- Honesty:
The Survey Lab will make factually correct statements to secure cooperation and
honor promises to respondents, whether verbal or written;
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Confidentiality:
The Survey Lab will not use information to identify
respondents without the permission of the respondent, except to those
who check the data or are involved in processing the data. If such
permission is given, it must be recorded by the interviewer at the time
the permission is secured;
- Right
to Withdraw: The
Survey Lab will respect the respondent's right to withdraw
or to refuse to cooperate at any stage of the study and not use any
procedure or technique to coerce or imply that cooperation is
obligatory;
- Consent:
The Survey Lab will obtain and document respondent consent when it is known that
the name and addresses or identity of the respondent may be passed to a
third party for legal or other purposes, such as audio or video
recordings;
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Permission of Parent:
The Survey Lab will obtain permission and document
consent of a parent, legal guardian or responsible guardian before
interviewing children 12 years old or younger;
- Right of
Refusal: The Survey
Lab will give respondents the opportunity to refuse to
participate in the research when there is a possibility they may be
identifiable even without the use of their name or address (e.g.,
because of the size of the population being sampled).
II. During Data Collection
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Clarity of Purpose:
The Survey Lab will treat the respondent with respect
and not influence him or her through direct or indirect attempts,
including the framing of questions, a respondent's opinion or attitudes
on any issue.
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Document Parent Permission:
The Survey Lab will obtain and document permission of a parent, legal guardian or
responsible guardian before interviewing children 12 years old or
younger. Prior to obtaining permission, the interviewer should divulge
the subject matter, length of interview and other special tasks that
will be required.
III. Your Rights if you
are Interviewed
- Privacy: Your privacy and the privacy of your
answers will be respected and maintained. Your name, address, phone number,
personal information, or individual responses won't be disclosed to anyone
outside the research industry without your permission.
- Full
Disclosure: You will always be told the name of the
person contacting you, the research company's name and nature of the
survey.
- No
Solicitation: You will not be sold anything, or asked
for money, under the guise of research.
- Voluntary: Your decision to participate in a study,
answer specific questions, or discontinue your participation will be
respected without question.
- Quality:
You are assured that the highest
standards of professional conduct will be upheld in the collection and
reporting of information you provide.
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Responsibilities to clients... |
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IV. As a Data Collection
Company
- Client Specifications:
The Survey Lab
will ensure that each study is conducted according to the client's
specifications;
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Confidentiality:
The Survey Lab will observe confidentiality with all
research techniques or methodologies and with information considered
confidential or proprietary. Information will not be revealed that could
be used to identify clients or respondents without proper authorization;
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Full Fielding Disclosure:
The Survey Lab will ensure that companies, their
employees and subcontractors, involved in data collection take all
reasonable precautions so that more than one survey is not conducted in
one interview without explicit permission from the sponsoring company or
companies;
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Honesty in Reporting:
The Survey Lab will report research results
accurately and honestly;
- Honesty with Qualifications:
The Survey Lab will not misrepresent themselves
as having qualifications, experience, skills or facilities that they do
not possess.
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Responsibilities to the
general public... |
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V. As a Market Research Firm
- Respect:
The Survey Lab
will not intentionally abuse public
confidence in marketing and opinion research;
- Honesty:
The Survey Lab will not represent a non-research activity to be marketing and
opinion research;
- Minors:
The Survey Lab will make interviewers aware of any special conditions that may be
applicable to any minor (18 years old or younger).
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Marketing and
opinion research is an important part of our democratic society, allowing
people to express their views on political and social issues, as well as on
products and services. We are committed to continuing this tradition. |
For more information on The Survey
Lab,
please feel free to send us an email or
visit our parent company Portland Research Group (www.portlandresearch.com). If
you have any questions about a
survey being conducted by The
Survey Lab, please don't
hesitate to contact us directly.
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