Research Ethics Standards

Our unwavering commitment to ethical research practices, participant protection, and maintaining the highest standards of integrity in MSP industry analysis

Our Ethical Foundation

MSP Benchmarks Australia is built on a foundation of ethical research practices that prioritize participant welfare, data integrity, and social benefit. Our research ethics framework follows international standards and is regularly reviewed by independent ethics committees to ensure we maintain the highest standards of professional conduct.

Voluntary Participation

All research participation is completely voluntary with no coercion

Informed Consent

Participants fully understand the research purpose and their rights

Confidentiality

Individual responses remain confidential and anonymous

Beneficence

Research aims to benefit the industry and participants

Justice

Fair treatment and equal consideration for all participants

Integrity

Honest and accurate reporting of all findings

Ethics Committee Oversight

Our research practices are overseen by an independent ethics committee comprising academic researchers, industry professionals, and community representatives. This committee reviews all research protocols, ensures compliance with ethical standards, and provides ongoing guidance on ethical considerations in our work.

Participant Protection

Safeguarding the rights, privacy, and wellbeing of all research participants including MSP clients and providers.

Implementation Standards:

  • Informed consent for all survey participants
  • Anonymous data collection to protect individual privacy
  • Right to withdraw participation at any time
  • Secure data storage with encryption and access controls
  • No personally identifiable information in published reports

Transparency & Disclosure

Complete transparency about research methods, funding sources, and potential conflicts of interest.

Implementation Standards:

  • Open documentation of all research methodologies
  • Clear disclosure of funding sources and independence
  • Public availability of statistical methods and assumptions
  • Regular publication of research limitations and constraints
  • Transparent correction process for any identified errors

Independence & Objectivity

Maintaining complete independence from commercial interests and ensuring objective analysis.

Implementation Standards:

  • No financial relationships with evaluated MSPs
  • Independent funding sources with no commercial bias
  • Objective evaluation criteria applied consistently
  • Multiple researcher review process to eliminate bias
  • Regular external audits of research independence

Data Security & Privacy

Implementing robust security measures to protect sensitive information and maintain confidentiality.

Implementation Standards:

  • ISO 27001 compliant data handling procedures
  • Encrypted storage and transmission of all data
  • Limited access controls with audit trails
  • Regular security assessments and updates
  • Secure deletion of data after retention periods

Participant Rights & Protections

Your Rights as a Participant

  • Right to understand the purpose and methods of research
  • Right to withdraw from research at any time without penalty
  • Right to confidentiality and anonymity of responses
  • Right to access research findings and results
  • Right to raise concerns about research conduct

Data Protection Measures

  • End-to-end encryption for all data transmission
  • Secure storage with multi-factor authentication
  • Limited access on need-to-know basis
  • Regular security audits and updates
  • Automatic data deletion after retention periods

Reporting Concerns

If you have concerns about our research practices or believe ethical standards have not been met, we encourage you to contact our ethics committee directly. All concerns are taken seriously and investigated thoroughly.

Ethics Committee Contact:

ethics@mspbenchmarks.com

1300 ETHICS (1300 384 427)

Continuous Improvement

We are committed to continuously improving our ethical practices and staying current with evolving standards in research ethics. Our approach includes regular training, external reviews, and adaptation to new ethical guidelines as they emerge.

Annual Training

All research staff complete annual ethics training and certification

External Review

Independent ethics committee reviews all research protocols

Best Practices

Regular updates to align with international ethical standards

Contact Our Ethics Team

Questions about our research ethics or need to report a concern? Our ethics team is available to address any questions or issues related to our research practices.

Ethics Inquiries

ethics@mspbenchmarks.com

1300 ETHICS (1300 384 427)

Participant Support

participants@mspbenchmarks.com

Support for research participants and rights information