The Survey Lab

 

 
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About Us!

 

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

 
Code of Conduct
 
Responsibility to respondents...

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I. In Data Collection

  1. Honesty: The Survey Lab will make factually correct statements to secure cooperation and honor promises to respondents, whether verbal or written;
     
  2. 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;
     
  3. 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;
     
  4. 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;
     
  5. 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;
     
  6. 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

  1. 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.
     
  2. 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

  1. 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.
     
  2. Full Disclosure: You will always be told the name of the person contacting you, the research company's name and nature of the survey.
     
  3. No Solicitation: You will not be sold anything, or asked for money, under the guise of research.
     
  4. Voluntary: Your decision to participate in a study, answer specific questions, or discontinue your participation will be respected without question.
     
  5. Quality: You are assured that the highest standards of professional conduct will be upheld in the collection and reporting of information you provide.
     
Responsibilities to clients...

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IV. As a Data Collection Company

  1. Client Specifications: The Survey Lab will ensure that each study is conducted according to the client's specifications;
     
  2. 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;
     
  3. 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;
     
  4. Honesty in Reporting: The Survey Lab will report research results accurately and honestly;
     
  5. Honesty with Qualifications: The Survey Lab will not misrepresent themselves as having qualifications, experience, skills or facilities that they do not possess.
Responsibilities to the general public...

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V. As a Market Research Firm

  1. Respect: The Survey Lab will not intentionally abuse public confidence in marketing and opinion research;
     
  2. Honesty: The Survey Lab will not represent a non-research activity to be marketing and opinion research;
     
  3. Minors: The Survey Lab will make interviewers aware of any special conditions that may be applicable to any minor (18 years old or younger).


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.

 

© Portland Research Group, Inc.