Research Orgs Publish Data Ethics / Legal Guidelines

Professional associations ESOMAR and the Global Research Business Network (GRBN) have released two sets of guidelines - Primary Data Collection and Duty of Care - intended to strengthen the ethical standards framework available to their respective memberships.

ESOMAR links 40,000+ professional members working in more than 800 organisations worldwide, while GRBN provides a support and communications network for more than 40 research associations on six continents. The guidelines aim to equip professionals for ethical practice in an age of ever-greater data collection and use, fuelled by new technologies, and reiterate the importance of maintaining trust with participants, alongside compliance with existing and emerging legislation.

The first, for Primary Data Collection, focuses on collection of data directly from or about a subject for the purpose of data, research and insights projects. It includes quant and qual methods that involve direct questioning of data subjects, but also 'methods of passive data collection in which the researcher observes, measures or records an individual's actions or behaviour'. The second, Duty of Care guidance, reminds practitioners and organisations of their responsibilities to the privacy and well-being of their data subjects and outlines the key expectations taking into account established ethical and legal requirements: this applies both to providers, and to those who commission research, ensuring that the latter are fully aware of their responsibilities, and setting expectations about what is and is not possible within the law and the sector's ethics.

Finn Raben (pictured left), Director General of ESOMAR said: 'It is high time to refresh our commitments and ensure our standards keep up with an ecosystem where data science is mainstreaming and leading to a dramatic increase in the volume of personal data, much of it behavioural, being collected. The recognition of the potential value to societies and economies is only possible when responsible and ethical use of personal data occurs'. Andrew Cannon (right), Executive Director at GRBN, adds: 'Trust is a fundamental to the future of our industry; trust by the general public, by clients and by regulators. Researchers' ethical behaviour, especially with regard to privacy and the use of personal data, is central to maintaining and building this trust, and these two guidelines provide researchers with the essential guidance they need'.

Links:
www.esomar.org/guidance/primary-data-collection
www.esomar.org/guidance/duty-of-care
www.grbn.org/codes-guidelines .

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