Research Built on Trust

Community Insights amplifies LGBTQ+ voices through research. Maintaining the trust of research participants is fundamental to our organizational practices.

All studies conducted through Community Insights, or those recruiting participants from the Community Insights panel, must adhere to standards for privacy and confidentiality, informed consent, fair compensation, data quality, ethical research practices, and respect for LGBTQ+ communities.

These standards apply to HRC Foundation research as well as research conducted with outside organizations.

Privacy & Confidentiality

Community Insights implements measures to safeguard both the privacy of panelists and the confidentiality of the information they provide.

Panelist contact information and other identifying details are stored separately from research responses whenever feasible. Access is restricted to authorized staff who require this information to administer the panel or a study.

Panelists’ names, email addresses, and other identifying information are not shared with external research partners or clients.

For studies conducted on external platforms, Community Insights may invite eligible panelists to participate; however, research partners do not receive panelists’ contact information from Community Insights.

Our agreements with external research partners also include protections designed to prevent partners from:

  • Attempting to identify or re-identify participants
  • Linking survey responses to outside data sources for the purpose of identifying participants
  • Collecting identifying information unless it has been specifically approved as part of the study design
  • Using participant information for purposes outside the approved research

In certain studies, participants may voluntarily provide identifying or contact information directly to a research partner, such as for participation in a follow-up interview. In these cases, we must clearly disclose the process to participants in advance.

Informed Consent & Voluntary Participation

Joining Community Insights does not obligate anyone to participate in a particular study.

Panelists independently determine whether to participate in each research opportunity. Invitations and study materials must provide sufficient information for participants to understand the study requirements, the use of their information, and any significant risks or expectations associated with participation.

Participants may stop participating in a study at any time, subject to the study’s consent terms.

Fair Compensation & Respect for Participants’ Time

We believe people should be appropriately compensated for the time and effort they contribute to research.

For external research projects, compensation is considered as part of our review of the study. We evaluate compensation for interviews, focus groups, and other more intensive research activities based on the time commitment, level of effort, eligibility requirements, and nature of the study.

We also evaluate the overall burden on participants, including survey length, screening requirements, frequency of contact, and the sensitivity or complexity of the research topic.

Participation in Community Insights is designed to foster an ongoing relationship with LGBTQ+ research, rather than obligating individuals to complete every study offered.

Data Quality & Research Integrity

High-quality research relies on both rigorous study design and reliable participant data.

Community Insights employs a range of quality-control practices to uphold the integrity of our research and panel. These practices include reviewing response patterns, survey completion behavior, demographic consistency, duplicate participation, and other data-quality indicators.

For external studies, we also work with research partners to set clear eligibility requirements, sample specifications, and expectations for how we will evaluate completed interviews.

We do not publicly disclose detailed fraud-detection and quality-control procedures to prevent compromising the effectiveness of these safeguards.

Standards for External Research Partners

Organizations collaborating with Community Insights are required to treat panelists with the same respect and care that is maintained in our own research.

Depending on the nature of the project, research partners may be required to agree to standards addressing:

  • Participant privacy and confidentiality
  • Appropriate collection and use of research data
  • Restrictions on identifying or re-identifying participants
  • Restrictions on matching participant responses to external datasets
  • Appropriate participant compensation or incentives
  • Secure data handling
  • Use of participant information only for the approved research purpose
  • Clear and accurate study descriptions and consent language

Community Insights may require modifications to study materials, screening criteria, consent language, or research procedures prior to agreeing to recruit participants.

Mission Alignment & Community Impact

Not every study involving LGBTQ+ people is an appropriate fit for Community Insights.

External projects are reviewed for alignment with HRC Foundation’s mission and for potential risks to LGBTQ+ participants or communities. This review considers not only the topic being studied, but also how questions are framed, how participants are categorized, how findings may be interpreted, and how the research will ultimately be used.

Studies may be declined if they are determined to stigmatize or exploit LGBTQ+ individuals, create unnecessary risks for participants, misuse sensitive information, or otherwise conflict with our standards or mission.

Our objective is not to require research partners to reach predetermined conclusions. Rather, it is to ensure that research involving our community is conducted responsibly, transparently, and with appropriate respect for the individuals whose experiences inform the research.

Questions About Our Standards?

Our research team is happy to discuss these requirements with prospective partners and determine whether a proposed study is a good fit for Community Insights.