Who - Why - How - Where

We care. We are family. We are passionate market researchers.

Synchro

Since 2007, this team of 10 people has sailed this little ship we call Synchro. The name came from a child when asked what he thought we do. Synchronize. Coordinate. Bring together.

Canadian

We are proudly Canadian. Well over 100,000 Canadians have entrusted us to connect them with the organizations and researchers who need their opinions to improve products and services we all use everyday.

Variety is the spice

Our clients span the range from government to non-profits to packaged goods to automotive to telecom and the very long list goes on...

200 Years

On average, each of us has worked in this industry for 20 years! That is a lot of experience. We feel we are pretty darn good at what we do, and striving everyday to improve where we aren't.

Privacy Advocates

We go to great effort to ensure the information you share with us, stays with us, and is only used for the purpose for connecting you with research studies.
We carefully adhere to the guidelines of the Privacy Act of Canada, and fully support its modernization.

Security

In short, a few of us are nerds about security and obsess about ensuring our systems are secure. Information is encrypted both at rest and in transit. Our systems are firewalled, penetration tested and kept up to date. We make extensive use of SSL, VPNs, elliptic curve cryptography; all to protect your information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to the questions we often hear.

What is a pre-questionnaire?

A pre-questionnaire asks a few key questions from the full questionnaire for a study. A respondent who is interested in the topic will fill out a preliminary pre-questionnaire. Our recruiters manually review responses to contact those who may qualify for the study.

What happens when I fill out a pre-questionnaire?

Our recruiters reviews each of the responses to contact those who qualify for the study. If you do not hear back from us before the start date of the study, it is either fully booked or we could not fit you into the particular study. We do try to contact everyone to let me know one way or the other.

How will I know if I qualify for a study?

If you qualify for a study one of our experienced and professionally trained recruiters will reach out to you via email and a telephone call.

How do your recruiters contact me?

Our recruiters will contact you via email and telephone call. Please ensure your contact information is accurate and up to date.

Why do I have to fill out some of the same questions every time you send me a questionnaire?

Each project is for a different client. We do not share or crossover any information between projects.

What is Qualitative Research?

Qualitative research is defined as a market research method that focuses on obtaining data through open-ended and conversational communication. Methods include individual interviews (in-person or on-line), focus groups, ethnographies like store visits, taste-tests, music listening evaluation, diaries and more.

This method is not only about “what” people think but also “why” they think so. For example, consider a grocery store looking to create a more inviting and inclusive layout. Preliminary observation concludes that more men visit the store than women. One good method to determine why women were not visiting the store is to conduct an in-depth interview of both current and potential customers. After interviewing women who live in the area, the researcher found that a few factors including layout, lighting and signage all contributed to less women visiting the store. The store can then act on the findings.

Qualitative research is based on the disciplines of social sciences like psychology, sociology, and anthropology. Therefore, the qualitative research methods allow for in-depth and further probing and questioning of respondents based on their responses, where the interviewer/researcher also tries to understand their motivation and feelings. Understanding how your audience makes decisions can help derive conclusions in market research.

What do you do with all my information?

We store it securely and use it to find people for a particular study. Sometimes we ask questions again because, especially for sensitive information, it is deleted after a study is complete. We work very hard to protect and ensure that your information is used only for contacting you about research studies.

How often can I expect to actually participate in a research study?

It isn't an easy answer, because each project is so different. Some have many different parameters and criteria. We often do not know in advance if someone will qualify for a study, until we ask the questions in the pre-questionnaire. We do however only send questionnaires to people we believe reasonably may qualify based on what we know.

How many paid studies can I participate in?

A respondent can participate in a paid market research study one (1) time every six (6) months up to five (5) times in total. Paid market research should not to be relied on for income, it is a way to earn extra cash while sharing your valued opinion and thoughts.

Where in Canada can I participate from?

We recruit for paid market research studies that take place all across Canada. If you move to a different province, please update your address with us. More and more studies are being conducted entirely online, which means folks who live rurally have the same opportunities as those in cities.

Additional information
Respondents are highly engaged in the study, voicing their opinions and input. Your participation is voluntary, however we do ask that once you commit to a study, you complete it. We work hard to connect people with studies, and are only paid if you attend and complete a study.

Privacy Policy

The short version:

We absolutely will not share your personal information with anyone outside of Synchro. Ever.
We will contact you for one reason only, to invite you to participate in market research studies.
We use the information you provide to try to find studies that would be most relevant, interesting and appropriate for you.
If you are invited to participate in a study, we will share the absolutely minimum information necessary with our client (ex: first name, basic demographics and study specific answers).
Our clients are bound by the same legal obligation to protect the minimal information we provide for a specific study, and following the study destroy any personally indentifiable information.
In summary, WE CARE. We are privacy advocates ourselves, and put a lot of effort into ensuring our systems are secure, and our policies are clear. In an age where too many companies frivolously share data in the name of "optimizing advertising", we don't. Ironic given that we are a marketing research firm. But the scope of our practice is narrow and specific. We connect people with researchers who are looking for their views and opinions.

The long legal version:

Overview

At Synchro Marketing Research Ltd., respecting privacy is an important part of our commitment to respondents and the general public. When you participate in survey research conducted by our organization, you can be confident that any personal information that you share with us will stay with us.

Any time you participate as a respondent in one of our surveys, whether in person or by telephone, mail or Internet, you can be assured that your individual responses will be kept confidential and never linked to your personal identifying information without your express permission. Your personal identifying information will never be sold to anyone. You are free to choose whether or not to participate in a survey, free to choose not to answer any specific questions and free to discontinue participation at any time.

The Synchro Marketing Research Ltd. Privacy Policy is a statement of principles and guidelines describing the level of protection of personal information provided by Synchro Marketing Research Ltd. to respondents and the general public. The objective of the Synchro Marketing Research Ltd. Privacy Policy is to promote responsible and transparent personal information management practices in a manner consistent with the provisions of the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (Canada).

Synchro Marketing Research Ltd. will continue to review its Privacy Policy to make sure that it is relevant and remains current with changing industry standards, technologies and laws.

Synchro Marketing Research Ltd. complies with the policies and standards set out by the Marketing Research & Intelligence Association http://www.mria-arim.ca and the Council of American Survey Research Organizations (CASRO). These organizations set standards to which members must adhere and which also protect your privacy.

If you have any concerns about how your privacy is protected at Synchro Marketing Research Ltd., please contact our Privacy Officer by e-mail or by mail at:

Mailing Address:
Attn: Privacy Officer
Synchro Marketing Research Ltd.
276-5525 West Boulevard
Vancouver BC V6M 3W8

Email:

Scope and Application

The ten principles that form the basis of The Synchro Marketing Research Ltd. Privacy Policy are interrelated and Synchro Marketing Research Ltd. shall adhere to the ten principles as a whole. Each principle must be read in conjunction with the accompanying commentary. As permitted by the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (Canada), the commentary in The Synchro Marketing Research Ltd. Privacy Policy has been drafted to reflect personal information issues specific to Synchro Marketing Research Ltd.

The scope and application of The Synchro Marketing Research Ltd. Privacy Policy are as follows:

The Synchro Marketing Research Ltd. Privacy Policy applies to personal information collected, used, or disclosed by Synchro Marketing Research Ltd. in the course of commercial activities.
The Synchro Marketing Research Ltd. Privacy Policy applies to the management of personal information in any form whether oral, electronic or written.
The Synchro Marketing Research Ltd. Privacy Policy does not impose any limits on the collection, use or disclosure of the following information by Synchro Marketing Research Ltd.:
– non-personally identifiable information;
– the name, title, business address and/or telephone number of an employee of an organization;
– other information about an individual that is publicly available and is specified by regulation pursuant to the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (Canada).
The application of The Synchro Marketing Research Ltd. Privacy Policy is subject to the requirements and provisions of the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (Canada), the regulations enacted there under, and any other applicable legislation or regulation.

Definitions

Collection: The act of gathering, acquiring, recording, or obtaining personal information from any source, including third parties, by any means.

Consent: Voluntary agreement for the collection, use and disclosure of personal information for defined purposes. Consent can be either express or implied and can be provided directly by the individual or by an authorized representative. Express consent can be given orally, electronically or in writing, but is always unequivocal and does not require any inference on the part of Synchro Marketing Research Ltd. Implied consent is consent that can reasonably be inferred from an individual’s action or inaction.

Disclosure: Making personal information available to a third party.

Employee: An employee of or independent contractor to Synchro Marketing Research Ltd.

Personal information: Information about an identifiable individual, but does not include the name, title, business address or telephone number of an employee of an organization, and does not include descriptive, factual information about an organization.

Respondent: A member of the public who provides personal information to Synchro Marketing Research Ltd. in the course of a survey conducted by Synchro Marketing Research Ltd. For example, a respondent is an individual who discloses personal information to Synchro Marketing Research Ltd. in the course of quantitative or qualitative marketing or social research.

Third party: An individual or organization outside of Synchro Marketing Research Ltd.

Use: The treatment, handling, and management of personal information by and within Synchro Marketing Research Ltd. or by a third party with the knowledge and approval of Synchro Marketing Research Ltd.

The Ten Principles of Privacy

Principle 1 – Accountability

Synchro Marketing Research Ltd. is responsible for personal information under its control and shall designate one or more persons who are accountable for Synchro Marketing Research Ltd.’s compliance with the following principles.

Responsibility for compliance with the provisions of the Synchro Marketing Research Ltd. Privacy Policy rests with the Synchro Marketing Research Ltd. Privacy Officer who can be reached by e-mail or by mail at:

Mailing Address:
Attn: Privacy Officer
Synchro Marketing Research Ltd.
276-5525 West Boulevard
Vancouver BC V6M 3W8

Email:

Other individuals within Synchro Marketing Research Ltd. may be delegated to act on behalf of the Privacy Officer or to take responsibility for the day-to-day collection and/or processing of personal information.

Synchro Marketing Research Ltd. is responsible for personal information in its possession or control and shall use contractual or other means to provide a comparable level of protection while information is being processed or used by a third party.

Principle 2 – Identifying Purposes for Collection of Personal Information

Synchro Marketing Research Ltd. shall identify the purposes for which personal information is collected at or before the time the information is collected.

Synchro Marketing Research Ltd. collects personal information from the public only for the following purposes:

to conduct quantitative or qualitative marketing and social research;
to understand respondent opinions to establish suitability for further quantitative and qualitative marketing and social research; and
to meet legal and regulatory requirements.

Further reference to ‘identified purposes’ mean the purposes identified in this Principle.

Synchro Marketing Research Ltd. shall specify orally, electronically or in writing the identified purposes to the respondent at or before the time personal information is collected in a survey. Upon request, persons collecting personal information shall explain these identified purposes or refer the individual to a designated person within Synchro Marketing Research Ltd. who can explain the purposes.

When personal information that has been collected is to be used or disclosed for a purpose not previously identified, the new purpose shall be identified prior to use. Unless the new purpose is permitted or required by law, the consent of the respondent will be acquired before the information will be used or disclosed for the new purpose.

Synchro Marketing Research Ltd. may provide clients or other third parties with information from any survey, in aggregate form. In aggregate form it is impossible to identify an individual respondent’s personal information.

Principle 3 – Obtaining Consent for Collection, Use or Disclosure of Personal Information

The knowledge and consent of an individual are required for the collection, use, or disclosure of personal information, except where inappropriate.

Participation by respondents in survey research is always voluntary. When a respondent agrees to participate in a survey, he/she gives consent to the interview by participating.

Generally, any personal information collected in the course of an interview is not disclosed to third parties. However, occasionally, a client sponsoring a research project may want to contact respondents directly. In these cases, Synchro Marketing Research Ltd. always explains the reason for the disclosure to the respondent and obtains express permission from the respondent before making any such disclosure.

A respondent is always free to choose whether or not to participate in a survey, free to choose not to answer any specific questions and free to discontinue participation at any time.

In obtaining consent, Synchro Marketing Research Ltd. shall use reasonable efforts to ensure that a respondent is advised of the identified purposes for which personal information will be used or disclosed. The identified purposes shall be stated in a manner that can be reasonably understood by the respondent.

Generally, Synchro Marketing Research Ltd. shall seek consent to use and disclose personal information at the same time it collects the information. However, Synchro Marketing Research Ltd. may seek consent to use and/or disclose personal information after it has been collected, but before it is used and/or disclosed for a new purpose.

In determining the appropriate form of consent, Synchro Marketing Research Ltd. shall take into account the sensitivity of the personal information and the reasonable expectations of its respondents.

The participation of a respondent in a quantitative or qualitative marketing or social research study may constitute implied consent for Synchro Marketing Research Ltd. to collect, use and disclose personal information for the identified purposes.

Principle 4 – Limiting Collection of Personal Information

Synchro Marketing Research Ltd. shall limit the collection of personal information to that which is necessary for the purposes identified by Synchro Marketing Research Ltd.. Synchro Marketing Research Ltd. shall collect personal information by fair and lawful means.

In conducting surveys, Synchro Marketing Research Ltd. limits the amount and type of personal information it collects. We collect only the amount and type of information needed for the purposes identified to individuals.

Synchro Marketing Research Ltd. collects personal information about an individual primarily from that individual or a member of that individual’s household. Except as permitted by law, Synchro Marketing Research Ltd. will only collect personal information from external sources, such as client organizations, if individuals have consented to such collection.

Principle 5 – Limiting Use, Disclosure, and Retention of Personal Information

Synchro Marketing Research Ltd. shall not use or disclose personal information for purposes other than those for which it was collected, except with the consent of the individual or as required or permitted by law. Personal information shall be retained only as long as necessary for the fulfillment of those purposes.

Synchro Marketing Research Ltd. may disclose a respondent’s personal information to:

a client of Synchro Marketing Research Ltd. where the respondent has consented to such disclosure;
a third party engaged by Synchro Marketing Research Ltd. to perform functions on its behalf;
a public authority or agent of a public authority if, in the reasonable judgment of Synchro Marketing Research Ltd., it appears that there is imminent danger to life or property which could be avoided or minimized by disclosure of the information; or
a third party or parties, where the respondent consents to such disclosure or disclosure is required or permitted by law.

Only Synchro Marketing Research Ltd.’s employees with a business need-to-know, or whose duties reasonably so require, are granted access to personal information about respondents.

Synchro Marketing Research Ltd. shall keep personal information only as long as it remains necessary or relevant for the identified purposes or as required by law. Depending on the circumstances, where a respondent may have to be re-contacted for purposes of clarifying responses to a survey, or to seek additional responses, Synchro Marketing Research Ltd. shall retain the personal information for a period of time that is reasonably sufficient to allow this re-contact.

Synchro Marketing Research Ltd. shall maintain reasonable and systematic controls, schedules and practices for information and records retention and destruction which apply to personal information that is no longer necessary or relevant for the identified purposes or required by law to be retained. Such information shall be destroyed, erased or made anonymous.

Principle 6 – Accuracy of Personal Information

Personal information shall be as accurate, complete, and up-to-date as is necessary for the purposes for which it is to be used.

Personal information used by Synchro Marketing Research Ltd. shall be sufficiently accurate, complete, and up-to-date to minimize the possibility that inappropriate information may be used to make a decision about a respondent.

Synchro Marketing Research Ltd. shall update personal information about respondents and employees as necessary to fulfill the identified purposes or upon notification by the individual.

Principle 7 – Security Safeguards

Synchro Marketing Research Ltd. shall protect personal information by security safeguards appropriate to the sensitivity of the information.

Synchro Marketing Research Ltd. shall protect personal information against such risks as loss or theft, unauthorized access, disclosure, copying, use, modification or destruction, through appropriate security measures, regardless of the format in which it is held.

Synchro Marketing Research Ltd. shall protect personal information disclosed to third parties by contractual agreements stipulating the confidentiality of the information and the purposes for which it is to be used.

All of Synchro Marketing Research Ltd.’s employees with access to personal information shall be required to respect the confidentiality of that information.

Principle 8 – Openness Concerning Policies and Procedures

Synchro Marketing Research Ltd. shall make readily available to individuals specific information about its policies and procedures relating to the management of personal information.

Synchro Marketing Research Ltd. shall make information about its policies and procedures easy to understand, including:

the title and address of the person or persons accountable for Synchro Marketing Research Ltd.’s compliance with its Privacy Policy and to whom inquiries and/or complaints can be forwarded;
the means of gaining access to personal information held by Synchro Marketing Research Ltd.;
a description of the type of personal information held by Synchro Marketing Research Ltd., including a general account of its use; and
* a description of what personal information is made available to related organizations (e.g. subsidiaries).

Principle 9 – Individual Access to Personal Information

Upon request, Synchro Marketing Research Ltd. shall inform an individual of the existence, use, and disclosure of his or her personal information and shall give the individual access to that information. An individual shall be able to challenge the accuracy and completeness of the information and have it amended as appropriate.

Upon written request to the Privacy Officer, Synchro Marketing Research Ltd. will inform an individual of the existence, use and disclosure of his/her personal information and shall be given access to that information

In certain situations, Synchro Marketing Research Ltd. may not be able to provide access to all the personal information that it holds about a respondent. For example, Synchro Marketing Research Ltd. may not provide access to information if doing so would likely reveal personal information about a third party or could reasonably be expected to threaten the life or security of another individual. Also, Synchro Marketing Research Ltd. may not provide access to information if disclosure would reveal confidential commercial information.

In order to safeguard personal information, a respondent may be required to provide sufficient identification information to permit Synchro Marketing Research Ltd. to account for the existence, use and disclosure of personal information and to authorize access to the individual’s file. Any such information shall be used only for this purpose.

Synchro Marketing Research Ltd. shall promptly correct or complete any personal information found to be inaccurate or incomplete. Any unresolved differences as to accuracy or completeness shall be noted in the individual’s file. Where appropriate, Synchro Marketing Research Ltd. shall transmit to third parties having access to the personal information in question any amended information or the existence of any unresolved differences.

Respondents and employees can obtain information or seek access to their individual files by contacting the Synchro Marketing Research Ltd. Privacy Officer.

Principle 10 – Challenging Compliance

An individual shall be able to address a challenge concerning compliance with the above principles to the designated person or persons accountable for Synchro Marketing Research Ltd.’s compliance with the Synchro Marketing Research Ltd. Privacy Policy.

Synchro Marketing Research Ltd. shall maintain procedures for addressing and responding to all inquiries or complaints from its respondents regarding Synchro Marketing Research Ltd.’s handling of personal information.

Synchro Marketing Research Ltd. shall, on written request, inform its respondents about the existence of these procedures as well as the availability of complaint procedures.

The person or persons accountable for compliance with the Synchro Marketing Research Ltd. Privacy Policy may seek external advice where appropriate before providing a final response to individual complaints.

Synchro Marketing Research Ltd. shall investigate all complaints concerning compliance with its Privacy Policy. If a complaint is found to be justified, Synchro Marketing Research Ltd. shall take appropriate measures to resolve the complaint including, if necessary, amending its policies and procedures. The respondent shall be informed of the outcome of the investigation regarding his or her complaint.

Additional Information

For more information regarding the Synchro Marketing Research Ltd. Privacy Policy, please contact the Synchro Marketing Research Ltd. Privacy Officer by e-mail or by mail at:

Mailing Address:
Attn: Privacy Officer
Synchro Marketing Research Ltd.
276-5525 West Boulevard
Vancouver BC V6M 3W8

Email:

Please visit the Privacy Commissioner of Canada’s website at http://www.privcom.gc.ca

For more information about the Marketing Research & Intelligence Association please visit http://www.mria-arim.ca

Contact Us

Synchro Marketing Research Ltd.

Toll-free phone: 1-877-358-1133 Fax: 1-866 284-0727

Email: [email protected]

276 – 5525 West Boulevard | Vancouver BC | V6M 3W6

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