Information for Survey Participants

The Population Research Laboratory is committed to conducting surveys in a prompt, confidential and courteous manner which results in the least amount of inconvenience for our respondents. We employ a team of experienced research interviewers and supervisors. We sincerely appreciate the cooperation of the many individuals who contribute their time and effort to take part in our surveys. It is only because of the cooperation of survey participants that we are able to undertake this important research.

Without our survey participants we would have a lot of questions and no answers!

Frequently Asked Questions

(Q) How did you get my phone number; why have I been selected?

(A) Your telephone number was randomly generated by computer; we have no identifying information about you or your household. For most surveys we select participants randomly so that results accurately reflect and represent the unbiased views of the whole community. Random selection is designed to give every household an equal chance of being contacted, and every eligible person in those households an equal chance of being selected to participate. 

(Q) What about the Do Not Call register?

(A) As we collect information for research purposes only we are exempt from the Do Not Call Register.

(Q) Do I have to participate in a survey; why is it important that I participate?

(A) All individuals are given the opportunity to decline to participate in the research surveys that we conduct. It is important that randomly selected respondents participate if they are able, to ensure that the results of the survey can accurately reflect the views of the wider population.

(Q) How is my confidentiality assured if I participate in one of these surveys?

(A) Confidentiality is assured to you the participant with no identifying information attached to the research survey. Data is collated so no individual would be able to be picked out from the research data. All of our projects have recieved approval from the University Human Research Ethics Committee.

(Q) Will my details go onto a database as a result of participating in one of your surveys?

(A) Your details such as phone number are never released to any other individual or company outside of the IHSSR at CQUniversity. Any information that you provide to us is used only for research purposes and never for commercial or private use.

(Q) Why would you ask personal information about me?

(A) We collect ‘personal information' such as age, household composition, gender and others so that our research can be broken down by the participants' demographics to look at patterns across specific groups, whether they are age groups, gender groups or household composition groups. We are not concerned with the identify of the person who provided the data, but are looking for patterns across population groups (defined by age, gender, household type, etc).

(Q) What will be done with the information I have provided?

(A) The information you provide is used for research purposes only. The information you provide during the survey is merged with that of other survey participants to form an aggregated view of behaviours, perceptions and opinions.

Questions or Concerns

If you would like more information or to discuss your participation in one of our surveys please contact:

Christine Hanley
Manager, Population Research Laboratory 
Building 18 CQUniversity Australia
ROCKHAMPTON QLD 4702

Phone: (07) 4930 6335
Email: c.hanley@cqu.edu.au

TOLL FREE NUMBER: 1800 228 111

If you have any queries or concerns about our research you can also contact the CQUniversity Human Research Ethics Committee on (07) 4923 2607 or ethics@cqu.edu.au