Vocal Jharkhand Code of Ethics

Our goals are to support sound and ethical practice in the conduct of survey and public opinion research and the use of such research for policy- and decision-making in the public and private sectors, as well as to improve public understanding of survey and public opinion research methods and the proper use of those research results. We describe our findings and methods accurately and in sufficient detail to permit outsiders to evaluate the credibility of our results. We encourage inquiries about our research methods and practices and attempt to answer requests for information promptly. As detailed in our privacy policy, we are committed to protecting your privacy.

Mission

We are a nonpartisan, impact-focused public polling and storytelling platform that captures authentic youth voices and turns them into actionable insights and high-quality research. We do this using public opinion and perception polling, which captures quantitative data, and structured storytelling, which helps people share their lived experiences as qualitative data sets.

This helps us conduct demographic research, content analysis, other social and behavioural research, and campaigns.

We strongly believe that public opinion polls play a vital role in ensuring everyone has a voice. They provide a platform for individuals who wouldn’t normally have access to a platform to share their perspectives on important issues. Polls level the playing field, giving everyone an equal opportunity to be heard regardless of wealth, age, education, social background, or political experience. This helps to ensure that a diverse range of voices are considered, preventing any single viewpoint from dominating the conversation.

Public opinion polls also serve as a valuable tool for uncovering truths and insights that might not be readily available through other means. They offer a window into public sentiment, revealing what people truly think and feel about current events and pressing issues. Additionally, polls can act as a reality check. By highlighting public opinion, they can ensure that decision-making across government, corporations, and civil society reflects the will of the people they represent.

Over the last 16 years, our mission has been to give young people across all sections of society a voice. We also enable the general public, businesses, civil society, and governments to understand this voice and public perception to make better, more inclusive, people-centric decisions. We’re committed to crafting a future informed by those who stand to inherit it. Our approach prioritises ethical standards and data protection, ensuring that young voices play a crucial role in the decisions shaping our future. We welcome suggestions and feedback as we grow into the biggest public polling platform in the country.

Inclusivity and Diversity

Vocal Jharkhand is dedicated to equality and inclusivity. We have a strict non-discrimination policy, in the form of our community guidelines, encompassing gender, caste, religion, language, sexuality, and others. Additionally, we actively strive for diversity in our panelists and survey participants to ensure results that accurately reflect the rich tapestry of India.

Our Responsibilities to Our Community

Protecting participants’ well-being: We won’t use methods that could cause harm, embarrassment, or mislead participants. Participation is completely voluntary, and you can withdraw at any time. You can terminate a survey, poll, or your writing at any time. We will also ensure that the data collected through polls and surveys will not result in harm to respondents and that there are measures in place to guard against such harm. No personally identifiable information is collected in any of the surveys, and every response is anonymised at the collection and analysis stage. We maintain the strictest standards of confidentiality for our users. You can access more details about our privacy policy here.

Transparency and Honesty: We’ll be upfront about the research goals and won’t disguise other activities as research. We will answer your questions honestly, except in rare cases where revealing information could harm the study or participants, and we will explain why the information is being withheld.

Respecting Voluntary Participation: We understand participation is a choice, and people can withdraw anytime.

Protecting Vulnerable Populations: We’ll protect the rights of minors and vulnerable individuals.

Informed Consent: Participants will be clearly made aware of all possible risks and benefits of participating in their study. Vocal Jharkhand will ensure that you only take every poll or survey if you wish to.

Data Privacy Compliance: We are GDPR compliant and follow all laws, policies, and regulations regarding data collection, use, and disclosure of information from individuals and organisations. Additionally, we never share your personal data with any collaborator or brand we partner with.

Protecting Minors: As per GDPR rules, we discourage people under the age of 18 from joining the Vocal Jharkhand platform, and conduct regular checks for the same. If our poll or survey requires them to be the primary focus, we will mandatorily obtain the consent of the parent or responsible adult when collecting personal data from children or anyone for whom a legal guardian has been appointed.

Responsibilities While Collecting Personally Identifiable Information

Transparency About Data Use: We only map the information you volunteer to share with us, including your email, gender, location, state, and year of birth. We only use this data to send you information and opportunities about campaigns, surveys, and contests. You can opt out of these communications at any time.

Safeguarding Your Information: We take data security very seriously and follow best practices to prevent accidental personal data leaks.

Strong Participant Consent: We won’t disclose any information that could be used to identify you without your explicit permission.

Our Responsibilities to the Research Landscape and the General Public

Transparency in Research Methods: We’ll disclose the methods used to collect data for our publicly shared research findings, emphasising transparency in research practices.

Correcting Our Mistakes: We will take responsibility for any errors in our research that could affect how people understand the results.

Accuracy Beyond Our Control: We recognise that sometimes errors may come from collaborators, sponsors, or clients.

Respecting Differences of Opinion: We’ll use professional judgement to handle situations where there are varying interpretations of data.

Commitment to Ethical Data Collection in Surveys

Ensuring Research Quality and Transparency: We will meticulously design research plans, samples, and data collection methods to guarantee reliable and valid results.

Accurate Source Attribution and Transparency: We will accurately cite research from other sources and disclose research sponsors, funders, and the party conducting the research.

Detailed Methodology Disclosure: We will define target populations, sampling methods, geographic locations, and other criteria for research and content analysis.

Transparency in Participant Incentives and Data Collection: We will detail any compensation or incentives, contact methods, and data collection dates.

Transparency in Statistical Reporting: We will report sampling error, weighting methods, and adjustments.

Ensuring Data Integrity: We will describe validity checks and recognise inherent limitations in all public opinion research.