​Research Participant Terms & Conditions

At Quest Cultural Solutions, LLC (QCS), we conduct research studies on behalf of partner organizations. Your participation is voluntary, and we want you to understand how your information is used, protected, and shared. This page outlines our commitments to you as a participant, as well as the responsibilities of the organizations we serve.
Research Participation TERMS & CONDITIONS
 
1.     PURPOSE OF OUR RESEARCH

Our studies help organizations better understand experiences, needs, and perspectives. Depending on the project, you may be invited to participate in a survey, interview, or focus group. Your insights help our clients improve programs, services, and decision‑making.
 
2.     YOUR PARTICIPATION IS VOLUNTARY
  • You may choose whether to participate.
  • You may skip any question.
  • You may stop participating at any time.
  • There is no penalty for choosing not to participate.
Any variation from these statements has been imposed by our partner organization, not QCS. QCS makes a good-faith effort to transparently communicate any variations that we are aware of to participants in advance. Participation in any study indicates your consent to take part under the conditions described here.
 
3.     WHAT INFORMATION WE COLLECT
 Depending on the study, we may collect:
  • Responses to research questions
  • Comments or opinions shared in a focus group, interview, survey, or other research study
  • Demographic information (only when relevant and optional)
We do not collect sensitive personal identifiers unless explicitly stated and agreed to in advance.
 
4.     HOW YOUR DATA IS USED
Your responses are used only for the purposes of the research study. QCS analyzes the data and provides findings to the client organization. Depending on the agreement with the client, those results can take the form of:
  • Aggregated results
  • Summaries of themes
  • De‑identified and identified quotes (when permitted)
  • Recommendations based on the data

We do not sell, trade, or use your data for any purpose outside the contracted research.
 
5.     CONFIDENTIALITY & ANONYMITY
 QCS takes confidentiality seriously. Depending on the study design:
  • Anonymous studies: No identifying information is collected.
  • Confidential studies: QCS may temporarily access contact information (e.g., for sending survey invitations), but your identity is not shared with the client unless you explicitly consent or de-identified or identified results are transmitted to the client as part of the reporting process.
In all cases, QCS limits access to your information to only those team members who need it to conduct the study.
 
6.     HOW LONG QCS RETAINS THE DATA
 
QCS retains research data only for the duration necessary to complete analysis and reporting. After the project concludes, data is securely archived or destroyed according to our internal data‑retention policies.
 
7.     TRANSFER OF RESULTS TO THE PARTNER ORGANIZATION
 After the analysis is complete, QCS provides the client with the optional raw or cleaned datasets (if part of the project scope).  Once results are transferred, the client becomes responsible for:
  • How they store the data
  • How they secure the data
  • How they choose to use or share the findings
  • Any decisions they make based on the results
QCS does not control or monitor how clients use, share, or store data after transfer.
 
8.     QCS LIABILITY & LIMITATIONS
 To protect participants and maintain transparency:

QCS is responsible for:
  • Ethical collection of data
  • Secure handling of data while in our possession
  • Accurate analysis and reporting
  • ​Protecting confidentiality during the research process

​QCS is not responsible for:
  • How clients interpret or act on the findings
  • Decisions clients make based on the data
  • How clients store, secure, or share data after it has been transferred
  • Any unauthorized access or misuse of data once it is in the client’s systems

These limitations ensure that participants understand where QCS’s responsibility ends and where the client’s responsibility begins.
 
9.     RISK & BENEFITS
 
Most studies involve minimal risk. You may benefit by contributing to improvements in programs, services, or community initiatives. You will not receive compensation unless explicitly stated in the study invitation.
 
10.  QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS
​If you have questions about a study, your rights as a participant, or how your information is handled, you may contact QCS directly at:

Quest Cultural Solutions
​[email protected]