Ethical Issues in Marketing Research ppt

PRESENTED BY:RAHUL KUMAR

Índice Show

Parties Involved in Marketing Research
Code Of Ethics By American Marketing Association (AMA)
Ethical Issues In Marketing Research And Considerations
Purpose & Use of Data
Force To Answer
Data Confidentiality
Personal or Sensitive Questions
Unbiased and Accurate
Ethical Issues In Marketing Research Involving the Protection of the Public
1. Incomplete Reporting
2. Misleading Reporting
3. Non-Objective Research
Ethical issues in Marketing Research Involving the Protection of Respondents
Use of “Marketing research” Guise to sell products
Right to privacy
Abuse of respondents
Ethical Issues Involving the Protection of the Client
Ethical Issues in Marketing Research Involving the Protection of the Research Firm
Ethical Issues in Marketing involving the Protection of the Research Profession

The function that links an organization to its market through the gathering the informationBy :- AMERICAN MARKETING ASSOCIATION

Formal communication link with the environment to provide accurate and useful information for better decision making.

Systematic process of specifying, collecting, analyzing, and interpreting. Useful for planning, problem-solving, and controlling

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Define the Research Problem Determine Research Design Defining the information need Designing data collection method / forms Analyze and Interpret Data Communicate Results

let discuss the various steps and related issues with these steps..

Identification

of problem Convert management problem in research problem.

There are three types of situations:Unnoticed opportunities Latent difficulties

Overt difficulties

The issue arise if the process of defining the problem and developing an approach is compromised by the personal agendas of client(DM) or researcher. The market research has four stakeholders:

These stake holder have certain responsibilities to one another and research projects.

RESEARCH DESIGNA framework or blueprint for conducting the marketing research project. It specifies the details of the procedures necessary for obtaining the information needed to structure and solve marketing research problems.RESEARCH DESIGN

EXPLORATORY

DESCRIPTIVE

CAUSAL

During

the research design stage not only are the concern of the researcher and the clients involved ,but also the right of the respondents must be respected The basics questions of the research design that should be adopted has ethical overtone. The researcher must ensure the utility of the research

The need of primary or secondary data is determined .

Issues in determining information need :The researcher is ethically obligated to insure the relevance and usefulness of secondary data to be problem at hand. The secondary data should be evaluated by the criteria It is also important that data were collected using procedures that are morally appropriate.

Gather factual information. Once the basic research plan has been completed, the needed information can be collected by mail, telephone or personal interviews, by observation, or from commercial or government data source. The choice depends on the plan and available source of information. Methods of Data Collection Personal Interview Telephone Interview Mail Survey Fax Survey E-mail Survey Web-based Survey

Misrepresentation of Data Collection Process Stems From Representation of a marketing activity other than research as research Abuse of respondents rights during the data collection process, under the rationale of providing better quality research. E.G.,

Use of survey for selling purposes Use of survey to obtain names and addresses of prospects for direct marketing

The Rights of the Respondents Can Be Violated By Not mentioning to the respondent that a follow up interview will be made Using hidden tape recorders Not debriefing the respondent Conducting simulated product tests in which identical product is tried by respondent except for variations in color

Purpose

of the analysis is to interpret and draw conclusions from the mass of collected dataMust select appropriate analytic tools to match data, research objectives, and information needs Researchers must remember to speak in managerial terms rather than in the terminology understood only by research specialists Reports should outline technical details of the research project and methods in an appendix, if at all Researchers should spell out their conclusions in clear, concise, and actionable terms

Ethical Issues in Analyze and Interpret Data:

After

analyzing data , report is prepared on the basis of findings of research.

Issues in report preparation: Principle

of clarity and precision. Principle of objectivity Principle of coherence Use of chart and diagram

Type

of information Nature of decision Time constraints Resource requirement Benefits vs cost

Adequacy Correctness Tailor

made Relevancy Up to date

Cost Time Demography Geography Communications Accuracy

Unethical Unethical Unethical

activities by client/research user activities by the research provider activities by respondent

Emic

and etic are the terms used to refer two different kinds of data concerning human behavior. The word is taken from Anthropology Emic =internal , etic =external Young people may not have emic awareness of themselves where from etic point

Ethics in Marketing research refers to moral principles or values that a researcher or research organization should consider. Let’s identify and understand various Ethical Issues in Marketing Research with the help of a suitable example. Following are some issues and considerations regarding respondents rights which the researcher should consider in any marketing research activity.

Ethics in Marketing research, Privacy of respondents data and assurance (Emotional & legal) regarding that is becoming an important part of Marketing research. The CASRO (Council of American survey research organization) has also established a detailed code of marketing research ethics.

Ethically, Sound Research (Good Research) considers the interests of 5 distinct entities which affect by the research process:

The General Public
The respondents in a specific study
The client
The researcher
The research profession

Parties Involved in Marketing Research

Generally, three parties are involved in marketing research –

The client who sponsors the project
The supplier who designs & executes the research
The respondents who provide the information

Code Of Ethics By American Marketing Association (AMA)

The American Marketing Association has established a 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 that the original language & statements of Marketing research code of ethics given by the American Marketing association may differ from this content.

The researcher should collect information for specific marketing research and should not use data for any other purpose such as to attempt the sale of merchandise or services.
The researcher should protect the anonymity and confidentiality of information collected from respondents.
There will be no intentional or deliberate misrepresentation of research methods or results
The interviewer should not use the gathered information for personal use or gain or advantages.
The interviewer should conduct interviews as per instructions and specifications received.

Ethical Issues In Marketing Research And Considerations

Purpose & Use of Data

Collected data should not be used for any other purpose.

Information or data collected from respondents should not be used for any other purpose or for any other research work.

In this case, the researcher plays a crucial role and he can assure respondents about the security of the opinions and information given by the respondent.

Force To Answer

The researcher should not force any respondent for answers.

The researcher can explain the importance or necessity of answer to that question for research work, but he/she should not make compulsion or impel respondents to answer a particular question.

Data Confidentiality

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 the organization.

Personal or Sensitive Questions

In case of personal or sensitive questions, the researcher should give time to respondents to think about it, and refuse to participate in the study.

Researcher or trained staff of appropriate sex can be used to reduce embarrassment caused. For example, suppose questions are related to the female product, then it will be better to select female staff to do the research.

Unbiased and Accurate

Proper, Unbiased and accurate information collection

Marketing researcher should collect accurate information and report to the research organization & client without any bias.

Ethical Issues In Marketing Research Involving the Protection of the Public

The researcher should not product falsified or wrong project or research report.

The falsified report may include –

Incomplete reporting
Misleading reporting
Nonobjective research

We can explain these points with the help of examples-

1. Incomplete Reporting

May not disclose potentially damaging information about the 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 necessar

For example, Researcher or organization may concentrate on that area where network or sale or reputation is strong.

2. Misleading Reporting

It 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. Non-Objective 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 in Marketing Research Involving the Protection of Respondents

Use of “Marketing research” Guise to sell products

Guise: Illusion, Semblance or misleading by erroneous information, 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

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 arose 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 in Marketing Research Involving the Protection of the Research Firm

Protection against improper solicitation of proposals
Protection against disclosure of proprietary information or techniques
Protection against the misrepresentation of findings

Ethical Issues in Marketing involving the Protection of the Research Profession

Use of Accepted Research Procedures: Marketing researcher should follow sound research procedures or clearly indicate any departure
Certification: In the 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.

References

Below is the list of reference and textbooks used for the article Ethical Issues in Marketing Research:

Marketing Research, Measurement and Method, Sixth Edition, Donald S Tull and Del I Hawkins, Prentice Hall of India Private Limited, New Delhi.
Marketing Research, Seventh Edition, Aakar, Kumar and Day, Wiley India Pvt Ltd
Marketing Research, Fourth Edition, G C Beri, McGraw Hill Companies
Marketing Research – text and cases, third edition, Rajendra Nargundkar, McGraw Hill Companies

This is all about Ethical Issues in Marketing Research and list of reference books used. You may also want to read Marketing Research Topics For Presentation.