ISO 20252 Market and Social Research Management System Certification

ISO 20252 Market and Social Research Management System Certification

ISO 20252 sets out the requirements for a quality management system in the market and social research sector. The standard guides research firms around customer service and continuous improvement, and covers the management and the research activities themselves: research proposals, surveys and discussion guides, sampling, and data handling and archiving.

ISO 20252 places emphasis on self-completion and observational data collection, on quantitative and qualitative research both online and offline, and on effective data management and processing. Recruitment, fieldworker training, coding, analysis, record keeping, and confidentiality requirements are all defined in the standard.

ISO 20252 gives market research and social research organisations a way to deliver quality service, consistent and reliable work, and confidence to the organisations and stakeholders that rely on the research.

The standard also provides guidance on market and social research that reflects local conditions.

Benefits of ISO 20252 for Market and Social Research

• Improves risk management, effectiveness, and efficiency
• Raises product and service quality
• Raises customer confidence
• Increases customer loyalty and satisfaction
• Reflects the professionalism and work ethic of the organisation
• Protects confidentiality
• Creates a training platform for new staff
• Promotes a continuous improvement culture around quality
• International quality assurance processes confirm the commitment of the organisation
• Raises international business opportunities
• Brings a professional perspective to the sector

Scope of the ISO 20252 Standard

The ISO 20252 standard covers the clauses below.

Terms and Definitions

• Research process management and system requirements
• 3.1 Organisation and Responsibilities
• 3.2 Confidentiality
• 3.3 Documentation requirements
• 3.4 Competence and training
• 3.5 Subcontracting and outsourcing

The Manager's Oversight of Research Elements

• 4.1 Meeting research requests
• 4.2 Project schedule
• 4.3 Collaboration and client cooperation
• 4.4 Survey guides
• 4.5 Managing sampling and data processing
• 4.6 Monitoring the conduct of research
• 4.7 Research documents, materials, and outputs
• 4.8 Reporting
• 4.9 Research records

Data Collection

• 5.1 General
• 5.2 Recruitment
• 5.3 Field data collection, quantitative research
• 5.4 Field validation
• 5.5 Qualitative data collection
• 5.6 Supplementary data collection
• 5.7 Observational data collection from secondary sources
• 5.8 Data collection
• 5.9 Data collection records

Data management and processing

Research project reporting