ESOMAR Guideline for Online Research

revised August 2011

This Guideline will be updated regularly as required. It is organised under six main headings and is designed as a web document. Brief guidance is given at the top level, and more detail is available at a lower level. The main headings and subcategories are listed below and you can click any line to review the appropriate guidance.

1.	Introduction
1.1	Over-riding principles for online research
2.	Ethical Issues
2.1	Handling personal data
2.1.1	Personal identifiers
2.2	Notifications and e-mail
2.2.1	Specific requirements
2.3	Privacy policies
2.3.1	Recommended content
2.4	Children and young people
2.4.1	Obtaining permission
3.	Regulatory Issues
3.1	Personal data and IP addresses
3.2	National jurisdiction
3.2.1	Remote data collection and data transfer
3.3	Registration
3.4	Security
3.4.1	Managing security
4.	Using Online Technologies in Research
4.1	Identification and tracking technologies for research
4.1.1	Specific technologies
4.1.2	Disclosure for identification and tracking technology
4.2	Practices that research organisations should adopt
4.3	Unacceptable practices
4.4	Interactive mobile devices and smartphones
4.4.1	Using interactive mobile devices
5.	Methodology Issues
5.1	Online sample
5.2	Access panels
5.3	Technical details
6.	Definitions and Useful Sources of Information
Appendix 1 – Key fundamentals of the ICC/ESOMAR Code
Appendix 2 – Example privacy policy