The Core Framework and Benefits of ISO 20252 Standard

Author: Charles Wilson

ISO 20252 is a universally recognized international standard for "Market, opinion, and social research, Vocabulary, and service requirements." The standard was first published in 2006, while the most recent edition was in 2019. ISO 20252 defines terminology and definitions, as well as service requirements, for organizations and individuals executing market, opinion, and social research.

According to ISO 20252, top management is accountable for the quality of client service as well as the system's development, interpretation, and continuous improvement. It is also necessary to hire a quality manager with sufficient certainty to be responsible for and control the entire system. The ISO 20252 standard also includes criteria for research confidentiality, project documentation, training, and outsourcing. Working with a qualified research supplier who fulfills standards and quality assurance criteria might increase confidence in the results. When these criteria are in place, healthcare researchers can be confident that their research was carried out by stringent standards and comprehensive validation.

ISO 20252 has a core framework that provides:

  • Confidentiality of research
  • ISO 20252 Documents which includes documents of systems and practices, including records management
  • Staff and infrastructure responsibilities, counting performance management of personnel
  • Information security with a strong security risk framework and controls
  • Strict rules and procedures for subcontracting or outsourcing
  • Detailed deliverables, including planning, delivery, and reporting on projects
  • Authorized requirements, internal and external audits, and management assessment

    • Also, the ISO 20252 standard covers how probability samples, non-probability samples, and access panels are conducted. It is an extremely demanding standard as it should be especially for healthcare data. It also covers practices and procedures for:

  • Fieldwork, data collection, and data validation
  • Physical observations and digital observations
  • Self-completion of data, including validation of self-completed data
  • Standards for data management and processing, such as hard copy data entry, data editing, file management, and data analysis

    • Additionally, there are other advantages of the ISO 20252 standard that are mentioned here.

    International Recognition: ISO 20252 is the world's leading expert in quality management. The ISO Research Standard is widely recognized and, in some situations, needed around the world.Risk Mitigation: A documented ISO quality system manages variables and delivers "proof" of adequate controls including data protection and security addressing Privacy Shield, and other requirements and client concerns.Increased Revenue: According to studies, ISO 20252-certified organizations have higher production and financial performance than non-certified companies. This is attributed to decreased rework, more employee output, and increased client satisfaction.Increased Efficiency: Companies that implement develop a Research Process (Quality) Management System that maximizes quality and efficiency. Once accredited, the processes and guidelines are in place for anybody to readily follow, making training, transitions, and debugging easier.Employee Morale and Training: Defined duties and responsibilities, management responsibility, established ISO 20252 awareness training processes, and a clear image of how their tasks affect the quality and overall company success all lead to more satisfied and motivated employees and ease of training new hires.Supplier Relationships and Control: Supplier relationships and quality control are becoming increasingly important in delivering accurate and relevant data as more processes are outsourced for efficiency and access to data in global marketplaces. ISO quality certification necessitates the establishment of procedures to verify that a provider knows the requirements of the ISO 20252 research standard.Documentation: The ISO 20252 Standard mandates all procedures to be documented, as well as any changes, faults, and discrepancies. This ensures consistency throughout production and holds all employees accountable.Consistency: All processes, from cost estimates to customer deliverables, are established, described, and documented to reduce error. Change management is also documented to ensure maximum efficiency.Credential: ISO 20252 certification provides third-party confirmation of a company devoted to quality and a respected point of differentiation in the marketplace.