This paper reviews the key ethical, legal, technical and data quality challenges researchers face when working with these new data sources. Its goal is to start a conversation among researchers aimed at clarifying their responsibilities to those whose data we use in research, the clients we serve and the general public. It uses the term secondary data to mean data collected for another purpose and subsequently used in research. It expands on the traditional definition of secondary data to account for new types and sources of data made possible by new technologies and the Internet. It is used here in place of the popular but often vague term, big data, and is meant to include data from various sources, such as transactions generated when people interact with a business or government agency; postings to social media networks and the Internet of Things (IOT). It is distinct from primary data, meaning data collected by a researcher from or about an individual for the purpose of research.
This document provides guidance to researchers on the special care required when undertaking research with children, young people, and other vulnerable individuals. Its principal focus is the ethical and legal issues involved, rather than the technical problems of such research. Thus, the welfare of individual data subjects is the overriding consideration. They must not be disturbed or harmed as a direct result of participating in research, or having their data processed and analysed for a research purpose.
This ESOMAR/GRBN Guideline on Mobile Research is intended to support researchers, especially those in small and medium-sized research organisations, in addressing legal, ethical and practical considerations when conducting research using mobile devices. It explains how to apply the fundamental principles of market, opinion and social research in the context of the current legal frameworks and regulatory environments around the world. It supplants previous separate guidelines released by ESOMAR and GRBN in 2012 and 2014 respectively. It is a statement of global principles rather than a catalogue of existing regulations.
This ESOMAR/GRBN Guideline on Mobile Research is intended to support researchers, especially those in small and medium-sized research organisations, in addressing legal, ethical and practical considerations when conducting research using mobile devices. It explains how to apply the fundamental principles of market, opinion and social research in the context of the current legal frameworks and regulatory environments around the world. It supplants previous separate guidelines released by ESOMAR and GRBN in 2012 and 2014 respectively. It is a statement of global principles rather than a catalogue of existing regulations.
This ESOMAR/GRBN Guideline on Mobile Research is intended to support researchers, especially those in small and medium-sized research organisations, in addressing legal, ethical and practical considerations when conducting research using mobile devices. It explains how to apply the fundamental principles of market, opinion and social research in the context of the current legal frameworks and regulatory environments around the world. It supplants previous separate guidelines released by ESOMAR and GRBN in 2012 and 2014 respectively. It is a statement of global principles rather than a catalogue of existing regulations.
During the last 20 years, the application of opinion polls has become an essential component of legal practice in matters concerning the protection of industrial property. In other legal sectors, for instance civil or penal law, the application of opinion polls is almost unknown. The selection of the consumer groups concerned and, especially the construction of correctly formulated questions, are decisive in the practical work of courts as well as for lawyers and producers intending to apply opinion polls for their legal decisions. Problems differ according to the particular aspect which is to be covered by opinion polls. In German rules of civil procedure the evidence given by an opinion research institute is considered expert evidence. Although legal theory has not succeeded in classifying the results of an opinion survey according to the rules of expert evidence, jurisdiction, being well aware of the fact that opinion poll results are of great advantage in fact finding, has disregarded all objections and is nowadays granting to the opinion research specialist the same status as to every other expert.
During the last 20 years, the application of opinion polls has become an essential component of legal practice in matters concerning the protection of industrial property. In other legal sectors, for instance civil or penal law, the application of opinion polls is almost unknown. The selection of the consumer groups concerned and, especially the construction of correctly formulated questions, are decisive in the practical work of courts as well as for lawyers and producers intending to apply opinion polls for their legal decisions. Problems differ according to the particular aspect which is to be covered by opinion polls. In German rules of civil procedure the evidence given by an opinion research institute is considered expert evidence. Although legal theory has not succeeded in classifying the results of an opinion survey according to the rules of expert evidence, jurisdiction, being well aware of the fact that opinion poll results are of great advantage in fact finding, has disregarded all objections and is nowadays granting to the opinion research specialist the same status as to every other expert.