Topic: ICG Matters, Guidance & Materials

ASMR – How It Can Help You and How You Can Help It

THE ARCHIVE OF MARKET AND SOCIAL RESEARCH

The AMSR is there for you to use – but also relies on donations and support from within the MR industry. Can you help by…

Donating historical research reports – quantitative or qualitative although they are currently most interested in qualitative reports. They could be in hard copy or digital form.
Volunteering to help in various ways. AMSR can only continue through the support of volunteers (archiving, promoting, administratively etc.) – so if you have any spare time, please get in touch with them today.

What is AMSR?

Since WWII the UK has been one of the leading countries in the development and use of qualitative and quantitative survey research to advise social policy and marketing action. But surprisingly, there is no comprehensive source of this information. AMSR has been set up to provide this source before all relevant papers, publications and memories are lost forever.

This archive will eventually contain all significant projects, technical papers, survey results, qualitative reports and biographical details from published papers, journals, books and newsletters covering the fields of UK market and social research over the last 70 years.

As such, it is easily available at www.amsr.org.uk – much of it in digital form, to anyone with an interest in finding out more about social and market trends and other findings from these kinds of research, the technical developments involved, and the history of the industry itself. Such research has now become a major part of everyday life, affecting all activities including our food, drink, lifestyles, media, finance, travel, and social attitudes.

The hard copy data archive is deposited and professionally managed at the History of Advertising Trust in East Anglia, which has the best archival skills, space and resources.

Who is the AMSR?

AMSR is a fully registered charity who’s Trustees include distinguished research professionals with a deep knowledge and concern for the enduring reputation of the industry:

Dr Elizabeth Nelson OBE (Chairman), John Downham (Vice Chairman), Raz Khan (Treasurer), Ian Brace (Secretary), Geoffrey Roughton, Adam Phillips, Bryan Bates, Simon Patterson, Phyllis Vangelder, Peter Bartram, and Jane Frost ( MRS CEO).

Who are its main supporters?

An increasing number of leading organisations and individuals from the research industry, so far including WPP, Kantar, Flamingo, Network Research, Sir Robert Worcester, Sir Ivor Crewe, Tony Cowling, Ruth Betts, Gill Wareing, Virginia Monk, Kirsty Fuller, Simone Williams, Peter Mouncey, Colin McDonald, Robin Birn, Judith Wardle, Judie Lannon, and 22 pledged subscribers.

AMSR is also supported by key organisations including The Market Research Society (MRS), The Association of Qualitative Researchers (AQR), The Social Research Association (SRA), and The Association of Users of Research Agencies (AURA).

Who is the archive for?

The archive provides a great resource for many different groups:

For Research Companies, it will enable their executives and directors to find out about published work on techniques and their uses, and the background to specific markets; and it will also provide an opportunity to lodge their own archives in a secure home

For Social Policy Makers and Companies which use research, to find out about research on their markets and targeted population groups, the background to the development of their markets, and again, a secure home for their own research archives

For Journalists and Media Organisations it provides a source of data and insights on all kinds of market and social environment, and background information on the research industry itself

For Social, Marketing, Management and Research Academics and Students, it provides easy access to published work on techniques and their uses, background information on specific markets and population groups, and the history of research industry organisations and key individuals

For any member of the public interested in UK social history, insights on the development of behaviour, tastes, opinions, characteristics and preferences of both consumers and the general population.

Progress Achieved

We are generating awareness of the existence of the archive, its purposes, resources and benefits, via Social Media, Newsletters, Press Releases, Social Events and the AMSR website at www.amsr.org.uk
We are raising the £30,000 per annum needed to sustain its operation during the coming years including the amount required to secure our contract with the History of Advertising Trust.
We are collecting relevant research material from individuals and organisations across the research industry, much of which will be stored in digital form.

The Archive of Market & Social Research,

Old Malt House, 21 Watling Lane, Dorchester on Thames, Wallingford, OX10 7JG

Tel. +44 (0) 7798 923966 | Email.enquiries@amsr.org.uk | Web. www.amsr.org.uk | Registered charity: 1166619

Chairman Dr Elizabeth Nelson, OBE – Vice Chairman John Downham – Treasurer Raz Khan – Secretary Ian Brace

AMSR aims to provide full archive access to the history and current development of UK market and social research. It works in association with others including the Market Research Society (MRS), the Association for Qualitative Research (AQR) and the Social Research Association (SRA).

November 26, 2018

2017 Members’ Survey

2017 Members’ Survey Results

September 25, 2018
Respondent Permissions – Example Wordings
It is important to make sure that respondents understand what will happen to their information and what they are agreeing to – and also for you to get the right permissions in writing.

Here we are collating some examples of wordings/ permissions used by members – if anyone has any others that can be added to the resources list, please email them to editor@theicg.co.uk.

The rules

Here are the guidelines that we should follow;

BHBIA guidelines: To secure a respondent’s fully informed consent, he/she must be told:
- The nature of the sponsoring organisation;
- Subject and purpose of the MR discussion;
- Methodology and approach;
- Location, duration of fieldwork;
- Date and time of fieldwork;
- Reimbursement offered – both the nature and the rate of remuneration;
- If, and how, viewing or recording will take place;
- The name of the agency and/or researcher conducting the discussion;
- What will happen to personal data collected at recruitment;
IF naming the end client before the interview would undermine the integrity of the work, this may be done at the end of the interview BUT respondents must be made aware at recruitment that:
- the client will be named at the end of the interview
- they can withdraw their consent at any point
- If the end client is receiving personal data they must be named before any transfer takes place
- The justification for this should be documented
Forms and sheets: Generally understood that the incentive sheet should be kept separate from the consent sheet (not all are taking this approach, and it may not be a strict requirement)
- Incentive sheets need to be kept for 7 years as part of accounting records
  - Keeping incentive sheets and consent forms separate = no need to store as much
- Incentives – these can be one sheet for all to sign
  - OK to leave off details of the client? No consensus here
- Consent – individual sheets due to the amount of information you need to collect
  - Need to include details of the client here
Incentive sheets should include the amount paid

Consent forms should include:
- Participating in research
- Audio recording
- Filming
- Permission to recontact
- Inform them about anonymised quotes (but no need for permission as not personal data?)
Consent for video for marketing purposes should be treated entirely separately.

Example 1

This is to confirm that:
1. I have received £XXX as a thank-you from XXX for participating in a research discussion on the date above.
2. I understand audio recordings, photographs and/or video footage may be taken of me as part of this research. This content will only be used for research purposes within XXXX. For example, to demonstrate a point made in the research as part of a report or presentation. It will not be used outside XXXX.
Example 2

AUDIO AND VIDEO RECORDING OF MARKET RESEARCH – RESPONDENT AGREEMENT

The group discussion you are about to take part in will be video and audio recorded. Copies of the video and/or audio recording may be seen/listened to by people working for the Client Company i.e. the company that has commissioned the research.

All those in the Client Company who watch/listen to the recording sign an undertaking that they will respect the anonymity of you, the respondents. Thus, if anyone watching/listening to the recordings recognises any of the respondents, then he/she must immediately stop listening/watching.
- The recordings will only be listened to/viewed for research purposes and only to pursue the aims of the research study
- The recordings will not be used for non-research purposes such as promotion, direct sales, social media or broadcasted in any way
This example then has the client signature/ agreement, followed by those of the respondents

Many thanks to all contributors to this article who have generously shared their knowledge
April 17, 2018
Example Late Payment Terms
Following an e-group discussion, here are some example late payment terms shared by members…
- “Invoices are payable within fourteen days of invoice date and, unless otherwise stated in writing, quotations are given exclusive of VAT. The Company will be entitled to charge interest on all amounts outstanding beyond 30 days at the rate of 4% above the current XXXX (insert name of your bank) base rate. Where a solicitor has to be instructed to recover payment, all proper solicitor and client charges are payable by the Client in addition to the party and party costs of any Court Proceedings.”
- You’re also entitled to a “debt collection” charge (varies according to the amount). A trick sometimes used is to send a statement a while after the invoice becomes overdue, showing the number of days overdue and the interest charged to date, along with the debt collection charge, and a statement along the lines of “interest will continue to be charged at the statutory rate until payment is made in full”.
- “The agreed fee should be paid within 15 days of the invoice date. In line with the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 as supplemented by the Late Payment of Commercial Debts Regulations 2002 (see https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20121212135622/https://www.bis.gov.uk/files/file37581.pdf), late payment may incur interest at the rate of 8% above the Fixed Reference Rate in force at the time. The Bank of England Base Rate at 31 December will be the Fixed Reference Rate for debts that become overdue during the period 1 January to 30 June. The Bank of England Base Rate at 30 June will be the Fixed Reference Rate for debts that become overdue during the period 1 July to 31 December.”
The interest rate and fees applicable are defined in law, and so no client can refuse to pay…although there is a risk that the client will not place any future business with you.
February 19, 2018

Example Non Disclosure Agreement

Following a recent e-group request, Martin Hollis has very kindly allowed us to publish a Non Disclosure Agreement template for use by ICG members.

Note: Whilst this is a good starting point, it is the responsibility of each individual member to ensure that this meets their needs and is up to date.

Disclaimer: The ICG takes no responsibility for this NDA or how it is used. These examples were posted prior to GDPR so will need to be updated…

Potential respondent NDAs

Example 1

Thank you for agreeing to participate in this research project. We will be discussing new products and ideas that are still in the early stages of development.

As a result, the ideas and the discussions here are confidential and by participating you agree to hold in confidence any and all technical or business information about the company’s product which is disclosed and discussed as part of this research project and that you will not use or disclose any of this information during and after participation in this discussion

You will be paid $XX.00 for your participation today; you agree this is sufficient compensation for participation, which includes your agreement to abide by this Confidentiality Agreement.

Example 2

Prior to beginning the Study, please read and acknowledge your adherence to the following confidentiality agreement

I acknowledge by signing below and accepting the offered incentive payment, to keep all information about the interview and ideas presented and discussed, completely confidential and agree not to disclose such information to any other party. As to members of my household, I agree that they are also under this same obligation of confidentiality.

Example 3

You have agreed to take part in an interview and to see and evaluate a new product idea. The ideas and information in the interview are confidential and you agree that you will not communicate to anyone, including family members and close friends, any details about what you saw or heard in the session.

By signing below and accepting the incentive, you acknowledge that you are agreeing to keep everything you will see and hear during the interview strictly confidential.

February 2, 2018

ICO GDPR Helpline

The Information Commissioners Office has various resources aimed at helping people understand and be ready for the new data protection legislation. Chief among them is a new helpline, launched on the 1st November…

ICO helpline for small and micro businesses

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) launched a dedicated advice line on Wednesday 1 November at 10am to help small organisations prepare for the new data protection laws. The phone service is aimed at people running small businesses or charities and recognises the particular problems they face getting ready for the new law, called the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Find out more here.

European GDPR guidance published – breach reporting, profiling and administrative fines

The Article 29 Working Party – the group of EU data protection authorities charged with agreeing European-wide guidance on GDPR – has recently published guidelines on profiling, breach reporting and administrative fines. Consistency across the EU is one of the fundamental drivers of the GDPR and, as the UK member of Article 29 (WP29), we’re either leading or assisting in the development of guidance on some of the main aspects of the law. You can read more in our blog about recently published European guidance.

Find out more about the Data Protection Bill

The UK's third generation of data protection law has entered Parliament. The Data Protection Bill was published on 14 September 2017 and aims to modernise data protection laws to ensure they are effective in the years to come. Find out more about the Bill and what it covers as well as the differences between it and the GDPR.

November 2, 2017
MRS Regulations for Administering Incentives and Free Prize Draws

For MRS rules covering how to handle incentives and prize draws click here.

March 1, 2015
10th Anniversary Celebrations!

10th Anniversary Celebrations!

ICG Birthday Party in the Midlands

10 years of the ICG and 10 ICG members from the Midlands – 3 from Nottingham, 2 from Lichfield and the others from Leicester, Leamington Spa, Repton, Northampton and Wellingborough, so a wide distribution from across the region.

We gathered in the Flagstaff Room of the Lace Market Hotel, one of the more interesting hotels in Nottingham, opposite the Galleries of Justice and up the road from the Nottingham Contemporary, so some history and some culture after lunch if required. We found that most of us had met before over the years, and although it was good to have the room to ourselves, the long table made it difficult to chat to anyone at the other end once we’d sat down! But we were able to admire the balloons and flowers which decorated the table, and we bathed in the sunshine coming through the Georgian windows! Being lunchtime, we were fairly decorous (in comparison to some of the other ICG birthday events), but even so the noise level rose, especially as we discussed the exciting dishes put before us – even Masterchef hasn’t produced a ‘confit duck ballotine’ to lead to the level of mirth coming from Lynne and Susan!

We tried to get a few mug shots i.e. photos of discussion along the table, but the shape of the room was not ideal for this, so Mike Harrison (by then the only man left, Richard Horswell having gone to save his car from a parking ticket) suggested our valiant waiter could get one of us all – and here it is. We look quite pleased with life, after a good lunch, a good chat and some super cake, a chunk of which should soon be enjoyed by the committee, courtesy of Lynne attending her first meeting as our Midlands’ representative.

The rather large purple balloons (#1 & #0) were last seen drifting along with Susan hanging on underneath, taking them for her 10 year old daughter – seemed only appropriate.

London

Our chairman Andrew Smith organised a celebration at the 606 Club in London. Here’s our Royal Correspondent’s report on the event :

A ‘morning after’ feeling blankets The Palace, and my brain, after the 10th birthday ICG night out at the 606 Club in Lots Road:

We parked right outside in the dimly lit and deserted street, ringing a bell on a wire grilled door which buzzed open onto some stone steps down into the club.

The only nod to modernity compared to visiting a club in the 70’s was the lack of cigarette smoke.

Wooden tables and chairs are arranged right next to the band, the walls are decorated with etchings of singers and musicians from years gone past.

The ICG party has two tables, Debbie Bray and Mike Chagouri have already arrived, and we join them.

We start the evening with nachos smothered in tomato salsa and melted cheese, and wine.

Our waiter Jason tells me that this part of the dinner has negative calories, and we tuck in with gusto.

The wine flows freely and our voices get louder as Andrew steps over to greet Mike Joseph and welcome some late arrivals.

We choose delicious food from the small menu, and the musicians and singer appear in front of us and start playing.

Jandira Silva’s warm and mellifluous voice flows over us like honey, and Andrew observes that Iris, who is Brazilian herself, is joining in and singing along.

The rest of us who can only imagine what the songs are about – it must be love of course – can enjoy the emotion, sound and rhythm of her voice.

She’s accompanied by her band – a pianist, base player, guitarist and drummer.

Janet Kiddle tries to imagine which member of the band Jandira is in love with, she thinks it’s the guitarist but I think it’s the drummer.

We are asked to keep our voices quiet while the music plays, and more bottles of wine are ordered.

On two occasions wine gets knocked over, fortunately when I knocked a glass onto Matt the wine was white.

Alan Reynold’s guest enjoyed herself so much she spilled red wine in the course of an extravagant gesture, but we all escaped unscathed!

Soon it’s time to cut the 10th birthday cake, kindly brought by Andrew and cleverly decorated, with 10 pink and blue candles.

The candles are lit and blown out, and it’s more wine and cake all round.

At some point someone says that Frank Winter was called the most handsome man in market research.

No wonder Jaqueline bagged the seat next to him; in fact he was surrounded by glamorous French Ladies as Genevieve also sat with him.

Frank was definitely attracting the exotic as much later in the evening on his table, astonishingly, May was showing photos of herself with Aung San Suu Kyi on her mobile phone!

John Habershon, who really looks like he should have been a rugby player, but who assured me he wasn’t – ever – is a very funny man and makes us laugh until we want to cry.

All the while, Andrew is discreetly keeping an eye on us all to make sure everyone is happy and looked after.

It was a great choice of venue, and arriving home about 1.00 all I could think was – thank you Andrew.

We really are lucky to belong to the best Group in the world!

Happy 10th birthday ICG – I wonder what we will do for our 15th – or do we have to wait that long?

Princess Corky

A very posh cake for a very posh celebration

Take it away Jandira, obrigada!

A happy band of ICGers

Didcot

Our brave new member Jane Woolley organised a celebration in her home for all members near Didcot. That cake also looks delicious!

ICG’s tribute to Arthur’s knights
(Front then left to right)
Jane Woolley – at front in orange jumper (the host)
Kirsten Dougal-Biggs (Henley-on-Thames)
Jackie Weaver (Oxford)
Karen Wigley (Chippenham)
Caroline Pakel-Dunlop (High Wycombe)
Martin Holliss (who supplied the cake in the photo) (Didcot)
Mary Leslie (Winchester)
Roger Titford (Hungerford)

What about sharing that recipe Jane, looks gorgeous!

Joint BIG/ ICG Event in Manchester

The ICGers in the North had a very successful joint event. We had an audience of 45, and the presentations plus Q&A were excellent. A great mix of presentations and celebrations.

Another delicious looking cake. Next ICG webinar : losing weight!

A good opportunity for socialising, network and celebrating

With some serious work done too!

March 1, 2012
10 years of the ICG!
10 years of the ICG!

Our Chairman, Andrew Smith, reflects on our 10 year anniversary.

The ICG then and now

Purely by chance I discovered in early February that the ICG was officially incorporated as a Limited Company on 25th February 2002 – almost exactly 10 years ago! So we must celebrate! (Ideas please. I’ll have something extra planned for our next London members meeting on Thursday 8th March – details and book at /event/3000073/doing-business-abroad-the-opportunities).

It’s amazing to reflect on the changes of the last decade. Today’s ICG is very much centred on technology. Just think of all the recent stuff around social media, our shiny new website, instant egroup messaging and, of course, instant video highlights of the brutal slaughter of a haggis (see
/resources/videos/burnsnightdebate-2012 ).

Once upon a time in 2002…

It was all so different in early 2002. The ICG’s then Chairman, Stephen Bairfelt of Purple Research, takes up the story of the worrying gestation of the fledgling independent ICG:

‘…February 2002 sounds about right because my daughter was very young at the time and I remember it being a really stressful time. We were being cast adrift (by the Market Research Society), for reasons we didn’t really understand and were not sure whether the ICG could survive financially.

I think we had about 120 members at the time and I set a target of reaching 150 in 6 months. The rest of the committee thought this could not be achieved (and by the way the committee then was only 4-5 people, rather than the 10-12 today). So I said as a priority we needed to:
1. Expand the committee to take account of all our new responsibilities
2. Grow the membership to give us more income
3. Forge close ties with other ‘special interest groups’ like BIG, also set adrift from the MRS, so we could learn from each other…..
and all this while trying to run a business. The committee members at the time were magnificent and pulled us through.’

Now to celebrate!

So thanks Stephen – the team done well! The ICG is likely to welcome its 400th member during early 2012, and goes from strength to strength. But remember, it’s the membership that makes it tick and breathe in energy and ideas – so keep doing so please!

Andrew Smith had the honour of taking over as the third ICG Chairman in September 2007.

Andrew Smith chairman@theicg.co.uk

(Ed – please check out the events listings for celebrations near you!)
February 16, 2012
The ICG Code of Practice
By joining the ICG you confirm that:
- you are working in the field of market research or a closely related area;
- You work alone, or in an organisation of no more than 3 full time equivalent staff, and agree that in keeping with the spirit of the ICG your organisation does not imply that it has more than 3 full-time employees;
- You agree to be bound by the ICG Code of Practice as stated below.
Please note that the ICG is able to rescind membership after payment is taken if it believes that the criteria above aren’t met. A full refund of monies will be returned if comes about within a month of membership.

ICG members are required to adhere to the core principles contained in the Market Research Society’s Code of Conduct, and ESOMAR’s Code of Conduct, whether they are MRS and/or ESOMAR members or not. Additionally, ICG members must adhere to appropriate standards of professional behaviour and not act to bring the ICG in to disrepute.

If a member or applicant is deemed by the committee, after examining evidence presented by another member, to have failed to meet the ICG Code of Practice, the committee reserves the right to refuse or withdraw membership.

In cases of dispute, written evidence must be submitted by the complainant to the committee within a reasonable timescale. The individual complained against must respond in writing within 28 days and may be asked to meet the committee.

The ICG committee will consider all evidence and deliver a decision in writing within 28 days. The committee’s decision will be final, and its deliberations will be conveyed to the relevant parties at the committee’s discretion. If a dispute involves a committee member, that member will not vote on the dispute.
June 18, 2011