Articles

The Insights Association (IA), the nonprofit association representing the U.S. market research, insights, and analytics industry, has permanently barred Frank Nappo, Frank Hayden, Daniel Harriman, and Ryan Stoudt from IA membership after each pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in the federal case involving Op4G, Slice (SliceMR), and SNWare. The IA Standards Committee will apply similar consequences to any other individuals or companies involved in fraudulent activity.

The Insights Association Code of Standards and Ethics is a living document, reflecting both the enduring principles of responsible research and the changing realities of the insights profession. Learn about 2026's minor revisions and the call for input on a much more substantive review in 2027.

Utilization and application of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in research are expanding and already supporting exciting improvements in the speed, scale, depth, and predictability of insights the industry can deliver to end users. However, the impact AI can have on research raises familiar, new, and evolving considerations for practitioners. Key mandatories to ensure research integrity and quality when using AI tools are outlined in the Insights Association Code of Standards and Ethics.

Interest in and use of synthetic data has evolved significantly over the past two years. Synthetic respondents, simulated personas, and AI-generated datasets are now common in conference discussions, product development, and professional dialogue. This shift makes it timely to revisit how synthetic data and synthetic participants intersect with the Insights Association Code of Standards and Ethics. The intent is not to slow innovation or endorse it uncritically, but to ensure that adoption is de...

Ensuring a positive participant experience not only supports better response rates, but promotes the accuracy and engagement that produce reliable insights. The Duty of Care principles in Section 1 of the Insights Association Code of Standards & Ethics (Transparency, Respect, Fairness, and Honesty) are a practical roadmap for obtaining better data and maintaining the public trust on which our profession depends. Below, we examine where each principle might be violated, connect it to the Code, an...

Survey fraud, defined as a systematic act of intentional deception in order to gain a benefit during the conduct of survey research, has moved from being an occasional nuisance to an existential challenge for the market research industry. The Insights Association Code of Standards and Ethics provides a clear mandate: researchers must ensure transparency, methodological clarity, and data integrity. Nowhere is that more relevant than in how we prevent and disclose acts of fraud.

Market research is not a promotional activity or a sales opportunity. While research and marketing intersect at times, they are different disciplines, have different underlying purposes, and raise different ethical and legal concerns. Thus, market research and marketing are subject to different regulations. While research and marketing are mutually beneficial, companies and organizations should maintain separate research and marketing functions for both to be successful.