Quality Control

National Field Services is a professionally managed and ethical market research provider whose services are delivered in a manner consistent with the:

• ISO9001 and ISO20252 accreditation standards
• Australian Market & Social Research Society (AMSRS) Code of Professional Behaviour and Code of Ethics
• ICC/ ESOMAR International Code of Marketing and Social Research Practice
• MRQA Inc Australian standards for excellence in Market Research
• Privacy Legislation

In our business dealings with clients, staff, suppliers, and other stakeholders, we are committed to being open and treating all people fairly and professionally, as well as always acting within the letter of the law. NFS has recently been awarded the ISO9001 and ISO20252 accreditation fulfilling its commitment to be on the forefront of quality data collection in Australia. The new International ISO standard for market, social and opinion research (AS ISO 20252) has become the Australian standard for our industry from 1 January 2007. Accredited Australian companies, such as NFS will be able to confirm their commitment to quality assured processes in the international arena.

All senior research executives of NFS are members of the Australian Market and Social Research Society (AMSRS) and as such are bound by the Society's Code of Professional Behaviour, which is the ICC/ ESOMAR International Code of Marketing and Social Research Practice. This Code is in use throughout the world and is adhered to by all our international associates and affiliates. NFS has intensive training programs for all research executives who join the company to ensure that our own high standards are maintained. Progress reviews and continuous external and internal training programs for staff at all levels ensure that our research executives are delivering the highest level of client service and research consultancy.

NFS was one of the founding members of Interviewer Quality Control Australia (IQCA), an organisation established to ensure standards of interviewing of all kinds. This has been overtaken by ISO20252.

NFS also strictly adheres to the requirements of the Privacy Legislation regarding market research which was enacted on December 21st, 2001. Privacy legislation as well as the Australian Market & Social Research Society (AMSRS) industry standards and code of ethics set clear guidelines pertaining to respondent privacy and confidentiality requirements. As such NFS is committed to developing procedures and protocols designed to preserve, protect and respect such respondent privacy and confidentiality at all times.

The IQCA Accreditation Scheme is part of the MRQA Inc Australian standards for excellence in Market Research and specifically Data Collection. This scheme has been servicing the minimum standards for market research data collection since 1990. It covers all facets of data collection, training, supervision and validation processes. This area defines the quality requirements covering electronic data capture, development of code frames, data coding verification, data entry, data entry verification, data file management, presentation of data, data analysis verification, virus checking and data storage. The philosophy and content of our Quality management System goes far beyond the requirements of both ISO9001 and BS7911. NFS has broad procedures and processes to ensure the highest level of service from all departments.

Across all studies NFS ensures that all personnel involved, including researchers, interviewers, data processing personnel, and administrative personnel, show the respondents the utmost level of respect and preserve respondent privacy and confidentiality at all times.