AQR Recruitment Guidelines

The Association for Qualitative Research (AQR) has recently published new guidelines on recruiting respondents for qualitative research. The guidelines - the first of their kind on this issue - are intended to maintain and increase professional standards throughout the industry.

Intended for all professionals, from recruiters to researchers and their clients, the guidelines have been especially developed in close consultation with the MRS. Essentially, they aim to define the key aspects of recruiting respondents for all qualitative research groups.

One of these aspects is the Data Protection Act requirement of informing respondents as to the purpose of the research in hand. They must also make clear for whom the data is being collected. Prior to the implementation of the Act, researchers and recruiters had generally maintained client confidentiality. The implications of this legal demand place far greater emphasis on the respondents, arguably making their needs more important.

Ann Whalley, Chair of the AQR, commented 'The AQR has developed these qualitative recruitment guidelines in a bid to inform our members of the key issues involved in the recruitment process. We are constantly striving to improve professional standards within the industry and keeping our members up-to-date with the latest practices, both legal and recommended, is vital to this. The introduction of the Data Protection Act 1998 has brought significant changes to the way research recruitment operates and it is appropriate that we address these for the benefit of our members and respondents alike.'

Whalley concluded, 'Qualitative research is a fast-changing environment and it is vital that practitioners are kept up-to-date with the latest developments. The publication of these new AQR guidelines coincides with The MRS' revision of its Qualitative Guidelines, an interpretation of its Code of Conduct which covers all aspects of qualitative research and is due to be published in the near future. Combined, they will help to raise professional standards and allow researchers to work safely in a range of new environments as opportunities arise, benefiting themselves, their clients and, most importantly, the public.'

The AQR Recruitment Guidelines are to be distributed to AQR and MRS members shortly. They are also available on the AQR's website in the reference section at www.aqr.org.uk.

All articles 2006-22 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas unless otherwise stated.