Canada's MRIA Launches VoxPop Survey Series

The Marketing Research and Intelligence Association (MRIA) has conducted the first in its series of 'VoxPop' surveys, which aims to promote the industry's high standards and encourage Canadians to participate in opinion research.

The initial campaign took place in August and elicited opinion about registration with the Do-Not-Call Registry (DNCR), which will prevent unwanted calls from telemarketers. Charities and researchers will be exempted from the new system when it kicks in next autumn.

The VoxPop also examined attitudes towards opinion research and highlighted that eight in ten respondents (81%) felt surveys and polls serve a useful purpose, 74% agreed participation in surveys gives people the opportunity to influence public policy issues, and 88% agreed surveys enable people to voice their opinions to companies about the quality of their products and services.

'Respect for survey research respondents is at the core of our industry, and VoxPop reflects that respect,' said MRIA Executive Director Brendan Wycks. 'When Canadians say yes to survey research, we all gain.'

The DNCR survey was conducted by a group of research agencies, including Bristol Omnifacts, Corporate Research Associates and Blue Ocean Contact Centers, Research House, Consumer Contact and Justason Market Intelligence. Survey results will be released regularly to provide a forum for the views of Canadians on issues of broad interest.

Founded in 2004, the association represents all aspects of the market intelligence and survey research industry, and members include more than 1,800 practitioners, small to large research houses, and buyers of research services. Its home page is at www.mria-arim.ca.

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.