TNS Infratest

Market Research FAQs

Regional Standards (German, file size 16 MB)
A common recommendation of

− the Arbeitskreis Deutscher Markt- und Sozialforschungsinstitute e.V. (ADM),

− the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Sozialwissenschaftlicher Institute e.V. (ASI) and

− the Statistic Federal Office

During surveys, we are often asked: "How did you get my telephone number?" or "What happens to my data after the survey?"
Here we want to give you the answers to some of frequently asked questions (FAQs).
Our link collection provides you with further information on market research

1. How many people participate in a survey?
   That varies and depends on the goals of the survey. There are also different interview techniques (paper questionnaire, online, telephone interview, etc.) and, consequently, variable numbers of people interviewed. Our project managers advise our clients which technique to use in order to get reasonable results.
    
   There are interview techniques at TNS Infratest designed to trigger answers of far more than 400,000 Internet users. Another example: Infratest dimap carries out a continuous study measuring the political mood in Germany (http://www.infratest-dimap.de) in weekly intervals. 1,000 people are interviewed for this study each time.
    
2. How are those people chosen?
   − the client may provide addresses
   − via telephone numbers chosen at random
   − passers-by may be approached on the street
   − in the case of web pages, every one out of x visitors is interviewed
    
3. How are the data collected?
   − by telephone
   − by paper
   − face to face (direct interviews)
   − online (Internet questionnaire)
    

4. What happens to the data?
   Your answers are directly stored electronically by the interviewer in most cases. Then the part with the questions is reviewed and separated from the address. Data and address receive a code number. Consequently, those who see your answers afterwards cannot link them to the address. Your address remains with TNS Infratest, but only until the total survey is completed. Your address may be used – if expressly agreed in the interview – to call, visit or write you in order to ask you for another interview.
    
   Your data from the interview are transferred into numbers and saved without your name or address / telephone number on a data medium (disk, magnetic storage). In the case of computer assisted interviews, where answers are directly fed in the computer, this already happens during the interview.
    
   Afterwards, interview data (without name and address) are computer-analysed and prepared for presentations by us.
    
   TNS Infratest GmbH is a member of the Arbeitskreis Deutscher Markt- und Sozialforschungsinstitute (ADM Association of German market research agencies) and works according to the regulations of the Data Protection Law (BDSG) and all other regulations concerning data protection

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