For responders
Your opinion matters! By participating in research conducted by B&B Research, your responses can help shape different aspects of our everyday lives — for example, the development of new laws and directives, as well as products and services designed to improve quality of life.
Thank you for taking part in our research!
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was I selected?
Respondents are selected using random sampling methods. The aim is to give everyone an equal opportunity to participate in the research. This sampling procedure allows the research findings to be generalized to the wider population.
For face-to-face surveys, we most commonly use a starting-address method. A specific address is selected, after which interviewers approach, for example, every fifth apartment or every second house until the required number of interviews has been completed.
Another sampling method, generally used in scientific research, is random sampling from the Estonian Population Register. In this case, individuals registered in Estonia are selected at random, for example every nth person. When this method is used, or when arranging an interview appointment, people may also be contacted by email or telephone.
For telephone and online surveys, we primarily conduct customer research, in which the client commissioning the study provides the research company with a list of its customers.
How can I be sure that the person contacting me is a B&B Research interviewer?
For face-to-face surveys, our interviewers always carry a photo ID card showing B&B Research as their employer, the interviewer’s name, and a contact telephone number. You can use this number to verify whether the person is a B&B Research employee and whether the survey in question is currently being conducted.
When contacting respondents by telephone, the interviewer will always introduce themselves as a representative of B&B Research. Calls are always initiated in Estonian.
Participation in our surveys is anonymous and voluntary.
How do you keep my data secure?
B&B Research protects personal data by strictly complying with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), relevant industry codes of conduct, including ESOMAR guidelines, and by using secure server hosting.
Responses collected through surveys and research projects are processed anonymously or in aggregated form. Contact details are kept separate from interview responses.
What legal and professional standards govern our work?
When conducting research, we follow recognized good research practices and the rules and professional standards of ESOMAR, the European Society for Opinion and Market Research. An important part of these standards is the protection of respondents’ rights and confidentiality.
When processing personal data, we comply with applicable European Union and Estonian data protection legislation.
What types of personally identifiable information do we process?
Whenever B&B Research contacts people in connection with a research project, we may process personal information such as an email address, telephone number, first and last name, or age.
The personal information we use to contact respondents is usually obtained either from the Population Register on a lawful basis or from customer or user lists provided by the client for whom we are collecting survey data — for example, when conducting customer or employee satisfaction surveys.
Purpose of processing
We process your contact details so that we can invite you to participate in surveys, research studies, and opinion polls.
When we conduct research as a data processor, we receive your contact details from the client commissioning the specific study, who is also the data controller. The data controller is responsible for ensuring that you have consented to your data being provided to us or that another lawful basis exists under the GDPR for disclosing your data so that we can carry out the relevant research.
In the case of scientific research, we may obtain your personal and contact details through random sampling from the Population Register.
For focus group research, we use different methods to recruit participants. For example, we may use a “snowball sampling” method, where you are recommended to us by someone who has previously participated in or cooperated with us. We may also publish invitations to participate in research through social media.
If you have agreed to participate in a focus group study, we will also ask for your name and telephone number so that we can contact you personally and agree on the conditions and practical details of your participation in the specific study.
The information you provide when answering survey questions is entered into a database together with the responses of other participants. It is provided to the client only in aggregated form for statistical analysis and does not contain personal data that identifies you.
Although we may contact you on the basis of legitimate interest, participation in our surveys is always voluntary, and the information you provide during the research is collected on the basis of your consent. You have the right to withdraw your consent to the processing of your personal data at any time.
When may we contact you again?
If you have participated in a specific study conducted by us, we may contact you again within the scope of the same study for quality-control purposes, for example to verify that the interview was conducted correctly.
The answers you provide to our questions during a study cannot normally be identified or linked to you personally, unless we have specifically requested your consent and you have explicitly agreed to certain responses being linked to your identity.
Who may we share your data with?
We do not disclose your personal data, including your email address or telephone number, to third parties without your knowledge and consent, except where such disclosure is necessary and justified for the purposes described below.
We may share your data with third parties that assist us in conducting research and surveys, delivering gift cards, distributing bulk emails, or providing hosting services for online surveys. These service providers act as data processors.
Any cross-border transfer of personal data is carried out securely and in accordance with the requirements of the GDPR.
We use Smaily OÜ to send invitations to participate in online surveys. Our online questionnaires are programmed and hosted using LimeSurvey.
What rights do you have when you entrust us with your personal data?
If you wish to request access to your personal data, please submit your request to us in writing. Our contact details can be found on the Contact page.
You also have the right to request correction of your personal data, to restrict the processing of your personal data, and to withdraw your consent to the processing of personal data entrusted to us at any time. Withdrawal of consent does not affect the lawfulness of processing carried out on the basis of consent before its withdrawal.
We will implement any necessary changes resulting from your request as soon as reasonably possible.
If you believe that your rights have been violated and there are grounds for doing so, you also have the right to lodge a complaint with the supervisory authority responsible for overseeing the lawfulness of personal data processing in Estonia — the Estonian Data Protection Inspectorate (Andmekaitse Inspektsioon).
How long do we retain your personal data?
Information processed in connection with research projects is generally retained for six months after the survey process has been completed. After this period, all personally identifiable information is deleted.
Where can I find more information about personal data protection?
Further information on personal data protection and privacy can be found in the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation, officially:
Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Directive 95/46/EC — OJ L 119, 4 May 2016, pp. 1–88.
Specific rules governing the implementation of the GDPR in Estonia are set out in the Personal Data Protection Act adopted by the Estonian Parliament (Riigikogu).