Advantages of working with a company associated with TRS or ADIA

Market research companies that associate with TRS (The Research Society) or the ADIA (Australian Data and Insights Association) are generally companies that are most committed to the market research industry and that adhere to the associations quality guidelines. A market research company or organisation can become a member of the ADIA and gain the ADIA Trust Mark. Market research professionals can personally become a member of TRS, or can be sponsored by their employer to be a member. Companies can also become partners of the TRS.

Working with a market research company that bears the ADIA Trust Mark

The Trust Mark is a seal of endorsement that ensures ADIA Member Companies are compliant with the highest ethical standards, particularly in regards to privacy. It also provides buyers of research the assurance that their data is protected.

There are three criteria ADIA member companies must meet to qualify for the Trust Mark:

• Adhere to the Privacy (Market & Social Research) Code
• Adhere to the TRS Code of Professional Behaviour
• Hold the International Standard for Market, Opinion and Social Research certification (ISO 20252)

ADIA members are awarded the Trust Mark as part of their membership once they have met the strict criteria. To maintain the Trust Mark, ADIA member companies will take part in an independent ISO audit, must comply with ADIA's co-regulated privacy code and participate in ongoing member training.

Source: ADIA

Further information about the Trust Mark and the ADIA can be found on www.dataandinsights.com.au

Working with market research professionals who are TRS members

TRS members are bound to observe the Code of Professional Behaviour, which covers both the ethics and standard conditions of conducting and reporting marketing research. The Code defines market and social researchers' responsibilities to their research participants, to their clients and to the community at large. The TRS Code conforms to international standards and has been modified for the Australian market.

Important benefits for clients of market research agencies that follow the Code:

• Market research must always be conducted according to the principles of fair business practice.
• Information about the client's business, (market research) data and findings remain confidential unless both parties (client and researcher) agree otherwise.
• Researchers must provide clients with all technical details of any research project carried out for them.
• Research findings must always be reported accurately and never used to mislead.

Important benefits for respondents:

• The respondent shall remain anonymous to anyone not directly involved in the research project unless the respondent actively chooses to lose this anonymity.
• Respondents must be able to check identity and bona fides of researchers without difficulty.
• Respondents co-operation in a market research project is voluntary at all times.

These benefits have been taken from the full text of the Code of Professional Behaviour of TRS. This summary cannot be taken as a substitute for the full Code. Download the full code from the TRS website.

Source: TRS

Further information about the TRS can be found on researchsociety.com.au