Privacy Policy

Market and survey research serves an important social function. Research organizations like Matrix Sciences Consumer Research (MSCR) rely on the input of individuals to help effect positive change related to the development of and improvements in products and services.

When you participate in survey research conducted by our firm, you can be assured that the personal information you share with us stays with us.

  • Your individual responses to surveys we conduct will be kept confidential.
  • We will never try to sell you anything and we will never sell your name to anyone. That is not our business. We are not telemarketers or direct marketers. We are market researchers interested only in your opinions.
  • Your decisions about participating in a study, responding to specific questions, or discontinuing participation will be respected without question.
  • We will not make any of your personal information available to anyone without your permission, except in the rare instances required by law.

We have developed rigorous privacy standards that are set out in our Privacy Policy. Our policy is consistent with recent federal privacy legislation, the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act.  If you have any privacy questions or concerns, please contact us via email or by mail at 119 West Drive, Brampton, ON, L6T 2J6.

Introduction
MSCR is committed to keeping personal information accurate, confidential, secure and private. Based on the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (“PIPEDA”), this policy describes how MSCR adheres to the ten principles of privacy set out in the PIPEDA. A copy of the PIPEDA is available at the federal Privacy Commissioner’s Web site, www.privcom.gc.ca.

Definition Of Terms Used In This Privacy Policy
“System Database” means a panel of households recruited by MSCR whose members have agreed to participate in in-person as well as telephone, mail or internet survey research from time to time.

“Interviewer” means an employee of MSCR who contacts a member of the public for the purpose of conducting Survey Research.

“Personal Information” means information about an identifiable individual, but does not include the name, title or business address or office telephone number of an employee of an organization.

“Privacy Officer” means the person at MSCR who is responsible for ensuring the protection of individuals’ personal information. The Privacy Officer may be contacted via email or by mail at 119 West Drive, Brampton, ON, L6T 2J6.

“Respondent” means a member of the public who is contacted by an Interviewer for the purpose of conducting Survey Research.

“Survey Research” means in-person surveys, telephone surveys, mail surveys, Internet surveys, door to door surveys, ad hoc panels, continuous panels, mall intercepts, business-to-business surveys, qualitative surveys, one-on-one executive interviews, media rating services, employee surveys, and all other types of survey research.

The Ten Principles Of Privacy

  1. Accountability - An organization is responsible for personal information under its control and shall designate an individual or individuals who are accountable for the organization’s compliance with the following principles. MSCR has designated the office of the Privacy Officer to be responsible for overall personal information protection, as well as MSCR’s compliance with the PIPEDA. In addition, MSCR’s client service personnel are able to respond to most inquiries about the protection of personal information.
  2. Identifying Purposes - The purposes for which personal information is collected shall be identified by the organization at or before the time the information is collected. When MSCR’s interviewers contact respondents by telephone or in-person, they identify themselves and state the purpose of their contact. They say that MSCR is conducting survey research and would like the respondent or other household member to participate in a survey. When MSCR sends written invitations and/or questionnaires to respondents, the invitation/questionnaire clearly identifies us as MSCR and explains the purpose of our contact, which is that MSCR is conducting survey research and would like the respondent to participate in a survey. In every case, MSCR advises respondents that their responses are used strictly for research purposes. MSCR may provide information from any survey, in aggregate form, to clients who sponsor that survey or to other third parties, such as journalists. Since this information is in aggregate form, it is impossible for clients or other third parties to identify an individual’s specific personal information.
  3. Consent - The knowledge and consent of the individual are required for the collection, use or disclosure of personal information, except when inappropriate. Participation in survey research is entirely voluntary. Consent is obtained when a respondent agrees to participate in survey research. When this happens, and the method of data collection is by telephone or in-person, an MSCR interviewer then conducts an interview with the respondent. When the method of data collection is by mail, computer or via the Internet, the respondent completes a questionnaire himself/herself. Generally, personal information collected is not disclosed to other parties. In rare circumstances, however, a client conducting a survey research project may want to contact respondents directly. In these cases, MSCR does not disclose a respondent’s personal information to another party unless it has first clearly explained to the respondent the purpose of such disclosure and has obtained the respondent’s express or written consent. An individual may refuse to answer certain questions, discontinue participation in a study, or withdraw consent at any time. A member of MSCR’s System Database may, at any time, rescind his/her membership.
  4. Limiting Collection - The collection of personal information shall be limited to that which is necessary for the purposes identified by the organization. Information shall be collected by fair and lawful means. MSCR 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 the individual. MSCR collects personal information about an individual primarily from that individual or a member of that individual’s household. Except as permitted by law, MSCR will only collect personal information from external sources, such as client organizations, if individuals have consented to such collection.
  5. Limiting Use, Disclosure, and Retention - Personal information shall not be used or disclosed for purposes other than those for which it was collected, except with the consent of the individual or as required by the law. Personal information shall be retained only as long as necessary for fulfillment of those purposes. MSCR uses or discloses personal information only for the reasons it was collected, unless an individual gives consent to use or disclose it for another reason. Under certain exceptional circumstances, MSCR may have a legal duty or right to disclose personal information without the individual’s knowledge or consent. An example of such disclosure would include subpoenas and other court or government orders. MSCR keeps personal information only as long as necessary for the identified purposes. Personal information that is no longer needed for its identified purposes or for legal requirements is destroyed, erased or made anonymous.
  6. Accuracy - Personal information shall be as accurate, complete, and up-to-date as is necessary for the purposes for which it is to be used. MSCR makes reasonable efforts to keep personal information in its possession or control, which is used on an ongoing basis, accurate, complete, current and relevant, based on the most recent information available to MSCR. MSCR relies on individuals, such as panel members, to keep certain personal information relating to them accurate, complete and current. MSCR updates personal information only if it is necessary for the purposes for which it was collected.
  7. Safeguards - Personal information shall be protected by security safeguards appropriate to the sensitivity of the information. MSCR safeguards personal information in its possession or control from loss or theft and from unauthorized access, disclosure, duplication, use or modification. The safeguards MSCR employs vary depending on the sensitivity, amount, distribution, format and storage of the personal information. Some information is stored electronically. Recent paper records containing individuals’ personal information are stored onsite at MSCR’s offices. Older records containing individuals’ personal information may be stored at an offsite storage facility. MSCR gives the highest level of protection to the most sensitive personal information. MSCR safeguards personal information in its possession or control through security measures, such as:• Physical security  secure locks on filing cabinets and restricted access to offices
    • Organizational security controlled entry in offices and limited access to relevant information
    • Electronic security firewalls and passwords MSCR informs employees about its policies and procedures regarding confidentiality, security and privacy, and emphasizes the importance of complying with them. MSCR may transfer personal information to third parties for processing, such as payroll, data processing services, or for other goods and services. MSCR requires these third parties to safeguard all personal information in a way that is consistent with MSCR’s measures and/or as regulated by law. MSCR uses care when disposing of or destroying personal information in order to prevent unauthorized access to the information.
  8. Openness - An organization shall make readily available to individuals specific information about its policies and practices relating to the management of personal information. MSCR is open about its procedures used to manage personal information. Individuals have access to information about these procedures through this Privacy Policy, by contacting client service personnel or by contacting the Privacy Officer.
  9. Individual Access - Upon request, an individual shall be informed of the existence, use and disclosure of his or her personal information and shall be given access to that information. An individual shall be able to challenge the accuracy and completeness of the information and have it amended as appropriate. When an individual makes a written request to the Privacy Officer, MSCR will advise the individual what personal information MSCR has in its possession or control about the individual, what it is being used for, and to whom it has been disclosed. When an individual requests it, MSCR will give an individual access to personal information about them, which is in the possession or control of MSCR. In certain situations, however, MSCR may not be able to give individuals access to all of their personal information. This may occur when:• Providing access to personal information would be likely to reveal personal information about a third party;
    • Disclosing the information would reveal confidential commercial information;
    • The information has been collected for the purposes of a legal investigation.If MSCR denies the individual’s request for access to personal information, MSCR will advise the individual of the reason for the refusal. The individual may then challenge MSCR’s decision.
  10. Challenging Compliance - Individuals may challenge MSCR’s compliance with this Privacy Policy. Individuals are advised to direct their complaints and questions in writing to the Privacy Officer. MSCR will investigate all complaints and attempt to resolve those that it finds are justified. If necessary, MSCR will amend its policies and procedures to ensure that other individuals will not experience the same problem. If individuals are not satisfied with the way MSCR responded to their complaint, they can contact the Federal Privacy Commissioner.

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Data Deletion
If you no longer want to be a registered tester with Matrix Sciences, you have the right to ask us to delete your personal data from our systems. If you request to close your account, we'll delete or anonymise your data so it no longer identifies you. To request that we close your account, please email recruiters@matrixsciences.com

Opting out:

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