Canadian Market Research and Online Survey Resources

The following is a short compilation of websites and organizations who promote ethics and high industry standards among the market research community. Most of these organizations are non-profit and provide information and contact information on their members who agree to abide by their standards.

The Marketing Research and Intelligence Association
The Marketing Research and Intelligence Association (MRIA) is a non-profit Canadian association who represents all aspects of the survey research and market intelligence industries. MRIA has over 2000 members including small and large research houses, and buyers of research services including insurance companies, major retailers, financial institutions and manufacturers. Annually the industry accounts for approximately three quarters of a billion dollars in market research activities.

ESOMAR
ESOMAR is the global organization for enabling and promoting better research into consumers, markets and societies. It was founded in 1958 and has more than 4600 members across 100 different countries. ESOMAR aims to promote the value of opinion and market research in highlighting real issues and promoting effective decision-making. All members of ESOMAR are listed in a directory along with their company contact details. All members agree to abide by the ICC/ESOMAR International Code on Market and Social Research.

Better Business Bureau
The Better Business Bureau is an organization that is over a century old and has been connecting consumers with businesses to create an “ethical marketplace” where both parties can safely trust one another. The BBB bestows the honour of an “accredited business” seal upon businesses who engage in ethical business practices and who meet the standards laid out in the BBB Accreditation Standards. Many Canadian market research companies are members of the BBB and closely adhere to their vision and mission. Although an important organization you can read more about Why Not All Survey Companies are BBB Approved.

SurveyPolice
This website ranks survey sites based on user rating. Over a decade old, they have thousands of reviews and are considered the authority on online survey taking. It’s a great site to find detailed information on individual survey panels, as well finding dozens of survey sites for every country in the world.