Survey takers, you do a great job sharing your honest opinions and devoting time to help brands improve their products and offerings. But one mistake can ruin the data the market research teams use for the same. It might lean the decisions to the wrong side. It might mislead the product design group in the wrong direction.

Result? Brands lose the vision of their audience’s wishes and the gaps in the market. To fill this gap, your opinions as a survey taker must be honest and true. But what if you’re fumbling somewhere unknowingly and don’t even know about it?

That’s why we’re sharing ethics for survey respondents that can make research worth its time and resources.

7 Ethics for a Survey Taker

1. Mind Privacy and Confidentiality

Some online surveys might have scenario-based questions. Or videos for you to watch and answer accordingly. While most of these aren’t confidential information, if the survey asks you to maintain confidentiality about their content, be responsible and treat such clauses with respect.

Don’t screenshot, screen-record, or misuse any of the information available to you as a survey panel member.

If you’re a part of a focus group, as a diligent survey respondent, never breach the privacy policies. Don’t reveal any information or sensitive data discussed in the group meetings.

When you’re part of a CATI panel, you’re in the category of experts for a certain topic. And providing the right technical knowledge or in-depth data is your onus. For instance, as an automobile engineer, you might be a part of market research on a vehicle’s safety guidelines. In such cases, you shouldn’t share data from real life that could threaten your employer’s or your clients’ data privacy.

Also, don’t quote made-up examples to mislead the CATI discussion.

We don’t believe in preaching data security. We also want our participants to know how to safeguard their sensitive data. So we also posted about your data privacy as a survey participant in a 2-post blog series.

2. Maintain Honesty

As a respondent, your honest answers are crucial to a company’s online surveys and business improvement plans. Don’t choose any random answer in choice-based questions to click the submit button in haste. Avoid writing vague or twisted answers just to complete the open-ended questions.

Never choose the wrong answers. Or provide wrong demographic information to hide your true identity. Remember, an ethical brand never misuses your profile data or reveals your opinions publicly.

You might like to learn 5 paid survey mistakes you might make as a panelist and how you can solve them.

3. Never Fake a Profile

Since incentivization is a great force to participate, some panel members might fall into the trap of making more money by participating multiple times in the same survey. For this, they need to create multiple profiles by faking information in their demographic portfolio that distinguishes members from each other.

Even if you’re new to surveys and weren’t aware of this ethical code, ensure all your profile data are correct and you’re not maintaining multiple profiles for the same panel company.

4. Avoid Biased Choices and Words

You might have strong opinions on a topic due to personal experiences. But don’t answer with biases. Your opinions matter and can change the course of a company’s market research.

Also, you might be unhappy with one product of a brand. That doesn’t mean the brand itself is bad. Don’t let your poor experience cloud your wider opinions.

Choose your words carefully, as words, in their totality, can construe a different meaning than you intend to. Although this isn’t precisely one of the ethical guidelines for survey takers, such slips can twist the research outcomes.

Pro tip: Read 7 tips to write constructive feedback in a survey if you struggle to frame your replies for open-ended questions.

5. Don’t Forward Unless Suggested

Some surveys, especially an invitation to a focus group or CATI discussion, might need extremely specific profiles. And you’re chosen by the panel or the brand for a reason. So, don’t share or forward the details, invitation, or follow-up emails to your friends, family, or acquaintances. Even if an email hasn’t been marked so, please refrain from blind forwarding.

6. Don’t Share Survey Outcomes Unless Mentioned

A company might share its survey outcomes with you. Although most reports are released publicly, some might carry sensitive information, which can create unrest or conflict in the public. You shouldn’t share such reports with anyone unless the report says so.

Such a careless activity might also dent a brand’s trust in you as a panel member. And it’s up to the market research team how to reveal sensitive data in public.

7. Refrain from Incentive Misuse

Digital systems can be vulnerable and may have loopholes. Don’t manipulate a system and play around with the incentivization process if you can crack the nuts and bolts of the system’s working. This might give you some extra pennies, but the chances of your profile getting banned are high.

Participate with Panels that Promote Ethics

If you’ve been thinking of filling out online surveys and haven’t yet decided which panel company is your jam, register with Opinionest for free and get going. Our system is designed to follow all the data privacy and security concerns you worry about. Inherently, Opinionest’s surveys follow global guidelines and regulatory rules. So, your data is safe in our systems, and you stay relaxed while earning vouchers with every milestone you cross with your survey participation.