Ipsos Online Access Panel - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Below are answers to some frequently asked questions from members of the Ipsos Access Panel. If you have a question not covered please email us on ipsosonlinepanel@ipsos.com and we will respond to your query as soon as possible.
General
Being a panel member
Technical issues
Data Privacy
General
Who are Ipsos?
Ipsos Access Panels are managed by Ipsos. Ipsos work with a wide range of organisations to carry out research projects. Members of the Ipsos Access Panels are asked to participate in this research to help organisations answer their business and policy questions.
What does being a member of the Ipsos Access Panel involve?
As a member of Ipsos Access Panels you will be invited to take part in surveys about various topics. You will receive surveys on all sorts of topics, including some which collect your opinion on ideas for new products, your usage of current products and how you use different services offered by organisations.
Taking part in any survey is voluntary, but you can answer each survey only once. The answers you provide are combined with other people’s answers and are used to help businesses make decisions about their products and services.
The number of survey invitations you receive will vary. On some occasions we will close the survey before you have answered it; this happens when we have a large number of people who have already responded to it. On these occasions, you’ll receive a notice that a survey is closed.
Why is my opinion important?
We work for a wide range of companies, all of which require their customers’ opinion to help make decisions for future products, policies or services. These include private organisations, charities or government bodies. The opinions you give help to shape the products you see in the shops and services you receive in the community.
Being a panel member
How will you contact me to ask me to take part in surveys?
Usually surveys will be sent to you by email, and can be completed over the internet through a personal computer. If you have also agreed to take part in mobile phone research, you may receive surveys by text message to be completed by text or mobile internet.
What do I get in return for completing surveys?
In order to thank you for your participation in surveys, we will give you points that you can exchange for gift vouchers. All the points you earn are available during your life as a member of Ipsos Access Panels. You can exchange your points for vouchers at any time you would like to through the member centre on the Ipsos Access Panel website.
Points are earned from participating in surveys or discussions through forums and discussion groups held online. Points will be awarded based on the length or time and effort required. In average, you will receive 10 points for being screened out, and 150 points for completing a survey. For some surveys you’ll be entered into prize draws, as opposed to offering reward points.
You will still have access to your points account 30 calendar days after your account is closed.
When are the points credited to my account?
Your account will be updated every 3 weeks, the points you earn will not immediately appear in your points account.
How long until I receive the vouchers ordered with my points?
The voucher orders placed on our website are processed every two to three weeks, so the vouchers are usually dispatched about three or four weeks after being requested.
Technical Issues
What hardware and software do I need to participate in IAP'S Online Panel?
A computer running Windows 98/NT/2000/XP or Vista, or MacOS with Mozilla Firefox as the browser. You also need an Internet connection (LAN/DSL or dial-up) and an Internet browser (i.e. Internet Explorer/Mozilla Firefox/Opera/Avant/etc).
For the interactive and multimedia content in our questionnaires you will also need the Adobe Flash Player plug-in. This can be downloaded and then installed free of charge from the following URL: http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/.
Data Privacy
I work with a lot of confidential and sensitive data on my computer. Should I be concerned about going on your site or answering a questionnaire?
Not at all. We use only a basic Internet connection and we don't use or have the ability to look at any programmes or files on your computer.
How do I know the information I supply is safe?
We take very seriously our responsibilities for the security and confidentiality of the information supplied to us by our clients and those who take part in the research we carry out. We take every care to ensure that we comply with our legal, regulatory and ethical obligations, including The Data Protection Act 1998 and the Market Research Society Code of Conduct. The contact we have with you is for market research purposes only; you will not receive "junk" mail or unsolicited sales calls as a result of participating in this research. If you have further questions about data security please email us epanel-uk@ipsos-online.com.
Will I receive junk mail due to my participation in the online panel?
Not at all. All the information you give us is strictly confidential. We will not sell or pass on files with your personal data to any third parties. You will not receive anything from another company without your permission. Visit IAP's privacy policy for more information.