Ethical issues and considerations in Marketing Research
1. Information or data collected from respondents should not used for any other purpose or for any other research work.
In this case the researcher plays crucial role and he can assure respondents about security of the opinions and information given by respondent.
2. Researcher should not force any respondent for answers.
Researcher can explain the importance or necessity of answer of that question for research work, but he/she should not make compulsion or impel respondents to answer a particular question.
3. Protection of data or confidentiality of data
Researcher or research organization should protect data properly. They should keep confidential data or information very safe and secure.
Any client or outside person should not access confidential and important data from organization.
4. In case of personal or sensitive questions, researcher should give time to respondents to think about it, and refuse to participate in study.
Researcher or trained staff of appropriate sex can be used to reduce embarrassment cause. For example, suppose questions are related to female product, then it will be better to select female staff to do the research.
5. Proper, Unbiased and accurate information collection
Marketing researcher should collect accurate information and report to the research organization & client without any bias.
The American Marketing association has established code of ethics i.e. principles of ethical practices of marketing research. We are explaining these points in simple English. These guidelines are for Research users, interviewers and research practitioners.
(Please note: The original language & statements of Marketing research code of ethics given by American Marketing association may differ from this content).
1. The researcher should collect information for specific marketing research and should not use data for any other purpose such as to attempt sale of merchandise or services.
2. Researcher should protect anonymity and confidentiality of information collected from respondents.
3. There will be no intentional or deliberate mispresentation of research methods or results
4. Interviewer should not use gathered information for personal use or gain or advantages.
5. Interviewer should conduct interviews as per instructions and specifications received.
Ethical Issues Involving Protection of the Public
Researcher should not product falsified or wrong project or research reposrt.
The falsified report may include -
a. Incomplete reporting
b. Misleading reporting
c. Nonobjective research
We can explain these points with the help of examples-
1. Incomplete Reporting
May not disclose potentially damaging information about product
Leaving uninformed about undesirable features or characteristics of the product
May hide or omit negative information or may avoid reporting situational details that are necessary
For example: Researcher or organization may concentrate on that area where network or sale or reputation is strong.
2. Misleading Reporting may present in such a manner that the audience will draw a conclusion that is not justified by the results mainly observed in advertising campaigns
3. Nonobjective Research intentional or deliberate misrepresentation of research methods or results
Example: Conducting research in areas where the firm has an unusually strong distribution system or reputation, this is an example of non objective research
Ethical issues involving protection of respondents
1. Use of “Marketing research” Guise to sell products
(Guise: Illusion, Semblance or misleading by erroneous information)
2. Invasion of Privacy Respondents
Right to privacy
Concept of privacy, informed consent and anonymity & confidentiality are three important elements involved in this “right”.
(Consent: permission to do something, respond favorably to
Anonymous: not known name, identity or source )
3. Abuse of respondents
Frequently interviewed respondents can be a form of abuse
For example – middle class , younger females (20-35) are particularly likely to be interviewed frequently
Long interviews may be another reason
Asking personal questions which are not required
Confusing questions, poorly trained interviewers, hard to read questionnaires, etc.
Ethical issues involving the protection of the client
Protection against abuse of position arised from specialized knowledge
Protection against unnecessary research
Protection against unqualified researchers
Protection of Anonymity
Protection of confidential and proprietary information
Protection against misleading presentations of data
-Overlay technical jargon
- failure to round numbers properly
- Unnecessary use of complex analytic procedures
- Incomplete reporting
Ethical issues Involving protection of the research firm
Protection against improper solicitation of proposals
Protection against disclosure of proprietary information or techniques
Protection against mispresentation of findings
Ethical issues involving protection of the research profession
Use of Accepted Research Procedures: Marketing researcher should follow sound research procedures or clearly indicate any departure
Certification: In USA or Europe, Anyone can declare themselves to be marketing researchers without any certification or special qualification
Inappropriate use of Marketing research techniques: example: political campaigns.