In market research, certifications are not just a list of acronyms on a website. They are independently verified proof that a research company operates to specific, documented standards across quality management, data security, respondent ethics, and research methodology. For procurement leads evaluating a research partner, they are one of the most reliable signals that a company will hold up under scrutiny.
ROS Research holds active certifications and memberships across all of the major standards that matter to research buyers. Here is what each one means and why it should matter to you.
What it is: ISO 9001:2015 is the world’s most widely recognized quality management standard, issued by the International Organization for Standardization. Certification requires an organization to demonstrate that it has a documented, implemented, and continuously audited quality management system governing every aspect of its operations.
What it means for clients: When ROS Research is ISO 9001:2015 certified, it means our project management processes, data handling procedures, client communication standards, and quality control practices are not informal habits. They are documented processes that are regularly audited against an international standard. Clients can request our quality documentation. They can ask how we handle a deviation from a quality target. And they can expect a consistent, accountable answer.
What it is: ISO 27001:2022 is the international standard for information security management, also issued by the International Organization for Standardization. It is the most rigorous certification available for how an organization protects the data it holds, processes, and transmits.
What it means for clients: Certification to ISO 27001:2022 means ROS Research’s information security program has been independently assessed and verified. Our controls include TLS 1.2+ encryption across all data transmission, encrypted storage at rest, company-approved encrypted VPN for all remote access, least-privilege access controls across all systems, and annual independent penetration testing conducted by a qualified third-party security firm, with all findings remediated before the report is finalized.
What it is: ISO 20252:2019 is the international quality standard specific to market research, recognized by ESOMAR and all major market research industry associations worldwide. It covers the systems and processes organizations use to manage research projects, protect respondent data, and maintain methodological integrity across all research activities.
What it means for clients: This is the certification that research-specific procurement processes most commonly require. It means that our sampling procedures, field management practices, data protection standards, and quality control processes have all been independently assessed against the standard that the global research industry recognizes as authoritative. When you work with an ISO 20252:2019 certified research company, you are working with a company whose research methodology has been independently reviewed.
What it is: The General Data Protection Regulation is the European Union’s framework for data protection and privacy, and one of the most stringent data protection laws in the world. GDPR compliance requires organizations to demonstrate that they collect, process, store, and protect personal data responsibly, with explicit consent, defined retention limits, and full support for data subject rights.
What it means for clients: ROS Research is fully GDPR compliant, with formalized Data Processing Agreements in place for all projects involving EU and EEA data subjects. We process respondent data under documented lawful bases, primarily explicit consent. We support all data subject rights including the right to access, erasure, portability, and rectification. We do not sell personal information. Cross-border data transfers are governed by Standard Contractual Clauses.
What it is: AAPOR is the leading professional organization for public opinion and survey research in the United States, bringing together researchers from academia, government, media, and the private sector. Membership in AAPOR reflects a commitment to the ethical practice of survey research, including transparency about methodology, honest reporting of findings, and adherence to AAPOR’s Code of Professional Ethics and Practices.
What it means for clients: AAPOR membership means ROS Research operates within a professional community that holds its members to documented ethical standards. We are accountable not just to our clients but to the broader research profession. For clients who need to know that their research partner takes methodology and ethics seriously, AAPOR membership is a meaningful signal.
What it is: ESOMAR is the global association for market, consumer, and societal research, representing more than 5,000 professionals and 500 companies across 130 countries. Corporate membership at the ESOMAR-26 level represents active participation in and commitment to ESOMAR’s standards for ethical, transparent, and professional research practice.
What it means for clients: ESOMAR Corporate Membership means ROS Research has been accepted into and continues to operate within the world’s most recognized professional body for market research. Our practices are aligned with international standards that govern how research should be done. As part of our ESOMAR Corporate Membership, ROS Research has published complete responses to ESOMAR’s 37 Questions to Help Buyers of Online Sample.
ESOMAR 37 Questions for BuyersOur certifications demonstrate our commitment to delivering reliable, secure and high-quality research solutions.