Many aspects of marketing research have ethical ramifications that should be taken into consideration. Commercial (i.e. for-profit) firms, such as independent research organizations (external suppliers) or divisions within corporations, generally conduct marketing research, as previously explained (internal suppliers). Commercial clients account for the vast majority of marketing research projects. Marketing research can suffer from a lack of objectivity or professionalism when it is compromised by the desire for profit.
In marketing research, there are four stakeholders: the marketing researcher, his or her clients, respondents, and the public. Stakeholders are held accountable for their actions, both toward one another and toward the research itself. Check out the respondent’s bill of rights on the Council for Marketing and Opinion Research’s website, for example (www.cmor.org).
In situations where these parties’ interests diverge or responsibilities are not being met, ethical dilemmas can arise. Learn – marketing research process.
30 When a researcher fails to adhere to proper marketing research procedures, or when the client misrepresents the findings in their company’s advertising, ethical standards are violated.
The following issues provide an overview of the various ethical issues that may arise during the marketing research process. It’s best when all parties involved behave honorably when it comes to resolving ethical issues. Ethical dilemmas can be resolved with the help of codes of conduct, such as the American Marketing Association’s code of ethics.
Several well-known marketing research organizations have graciously allowed us to share their codes of conduct, and we strongly encourage you to do so. Explore – why marketing research importance .
Ethical Issues in Marketing and Research: A Process Overview
I. Problem Definition
- In order to sell or raise money, a disguise surveys may use.
- Researchers and clients have their own personal goals in mind when conducting their research
- Conducting research that isn’t necessary
II. Developing an Approach
- The use of the findings and models developed for a particular client or project in other projects
- Requesting proposals to obtain free research expertise
III. Research Design
- Designing a study that is more focused on the researcher’s goals than the client’s
- Using data that is not relevant or has been gathered using questionable methods
- Making it appear as though the study has a different objective
- Asking the researcher for unjustifiable concessions
- Failure to protect the identities of respondents
- Invading respondents’ privacy
- Deceiving customers
- To hide the fact that you’re observing people
- Embarking on a personal attack on the respondent.
- The use of unreliable and invalidated measurement scales
- piggybacking, excessively long questionnaires and questions that are too sensitive
- sampling procedures and sample sizes that are not appropriate
IV. Fieldwork
- People’s dissatisfaction with the situation is increasing
- Follow the acceptable fieldwork procedures
V. Preparation and Analysis of Data
- It is important to identify unsatisfactory respondents
- When the underlying assumptions are violated, statistical methods are used.
- incorrect conclusions and recommendations based on inaccurate interpretations of the results
VI .Preparation and Delivery of Reports
- Reporting that is not complete
- Reporting that is biased
- Inaccurate data collection and reporting