MRS Provides Guidance on Post Covid-19 Lockdown

The UK's Market Research Society (MRS) has published a set of guidelines for returning to work after the Covid-19 lockdown, including face-to-face activity - but is also calling for 'much greater clarity' from the government.

The new guidelines are built on the government's safe working recommendations, and set out the measures research practitioners will need to take in order to ensure the safety of their own staff, and those members of the public with whom face-to-face interaction is essential. The MRS is calling on the government to provide more details on areas such as the use of public transport, and research with the over-70 age group.

In a statement, the Society said the advice is based on its current understanding of the government's guidance and support on Covid-19, which is subject to continuous development. While MRS will update and publish accordingly, it says it remains the responsibility of research practitioners to keep up-to-date. MRS guidance does not replace government advice, and researchers are advised to continue to check up-to-date guidance on the government web site (www.gov.uk/coronavirus ).

The MRS added: 'It is also important that research practitioners continue to gain and retain the confidence of the public regarding the aims and value of our sector's activities. At a time when there remains a high level of concern about social contact, the necessity and need for face-to-face data collection, as opposed to any other data collection method, should be a key consideration when determining its use'.

The MRS guidance can be accessed here: www.mrs.org.uk/pdf/Post%20Lockdown%20Covid%20research%20guidance1.pdf .

Earlier this week, US trade body the Insight Association (IA) issued guidelines to help insights and data analytics firms 'prepare for business in a post-COVID world', at a time when some states are extending lockdowns and others lifting them.