Answering questions on the Internet can be a scary experience. Who sees this information? How will it be used? Will I get junk mail because I was nice enough to answer a few questions?

It's important to Policy Studies Inc. (PSI) to help its customers retain their privacy when they visit our site or respond to surveys. We find anonymous answers tend to be the most honest answers. Because of this, few of our surveys ask for identifying information. However, the sponsor of the survey often needs to know the demographics of the respondents so that they may improve their operations and customer service. How do we balance these needs? Please take a moment to read the following principles.

Privacy Principles

Because your privacy is important to us, PSI sites displaying this privacy statement will operate by the following seven principles.

Principle 1 - We'll ask and explain why.
PSI sites will explicitly ask when they need information that personally identifies you or allows them to contact you ("Personally Identifiable Information"). Generally this information is requested when registering for a site, when requesting a particular service such as an on-line demonstration, or when entering a sweepstakes or contest. When asked as part of a survey, the instructions for the question will explain why the information is being gathered and whether it is required.

Principle 2 - How the information is used.
PSI sites use your Personally Identifiable Information to operate the sites and services and to inform you of new features, services, and products from Policy Studies Inc. Some PSI sites may also send you information about their products or services which are related to the site's service but are not necessary to its operation (a "Secondary Use"). Survey responses are NOT used for marketing purposes or any other Secondary Use, either by PSI or any entity related to PSI, unless the questions gathering such contact information explicitely state that you are allowing PSI to use the information in that manner.

Principle 3 - Opting in.
If a PSI site intends to use Personally Identifiable Information for a Secondary Use, the PSI site will provide you with instructions on how to receive this service. Once you begin to receive the delivery of informational or promotional e-mail from PSI sites, you may opt-out or stop future deliveries by following the instructions on the e-mail sent to you.

Principle 4 - Who sees the information.
PSI employees and contractors are under strict confidentiality agreements that have severe disciplinary actions associated with any violation. PSI may be under contract to share the raw data obtained from survey responses with the sponsoring agency. This provision allows our client the ability to review, audit, and further analyze the results of our work. Our clients are often under the same or similar confidentiality agreements. If you have any concerns about who will see the information, please contact the author of the survey (usually found in the survey heading) or contact us at: mailto:privacy@policy-studies.com

Principle 5 - Under age users.
Very few, if any, PSI Sites are directed to online users under the age of 13 and below. For those PSI sites that require users to provide age information in order to access the site or to participate in the activities offered by the site, PSI will require users who indicate that they are under the age of 13 to get parental consent prior to using the site, or the website will attempt to block their access to the site.

Principle 6 - When we will disclose.
PSI sites may disclose Personally Identifiable Information if required to do so by law or in the good-faith belief that such action is necessary to (a) conform to the edicts of the law or comply with legal process served on Policy Studies Inc. or the site; (b) protect and defend the rights or property of Policy Studies Inc. or the site, and (c) act under exigent circumstances to protect the personal safety of users of the site, Policy Studies Inc., or the public.

Principle 7 - Resolutions.
If at any time you believe that a PSI site has not adhered to these principles, please notify PSI by e-mail at mailto:privacy@policy-studies.com and we will use all commercially reasonable efforts to promptly determine and correct the problem.

PSI is committed to maintaining its position as a premier site on the Internet. As our site continues to develop, we may add new services and features to our website. In the event that these additions affect our Privacy Statement, this document will be updated appropriately.

Updated February 2003