Privacy Policy

1. Who we are

Research Stake LLC (“Research Stake”, “we”, “us”) is a market and consumer research firm based at 2323 Bryan St, Dallas, TX 75201, United States. We conduct research in the United States on behalf of client organisations, and operate a panel of US residents who choose to take part in that research.

This policy explains what personal information we collect, why we collect it, who we share it with, and the rights you have over it. For any privacy question, contact us at info@researchstake.com.

2. Information we collect

From research participants

• Profile information you provide when joining the panel — name, email address, location, and demographic or professional details used to match you to studies.
• Screening responses submitted when you apply to a specific study.
• Research responses — survey answers, interview and focus group contributions, and, where you have consented, audio or video recordings.
• Incentive information needed to pay you, such as the email address for a digital gift card or payment details you choose to provide.
• Technical information — IP address, device and browser characteristics, and approximate location, used to verify identity and detect fraudulent or duplicate accounts.

From client contacts

• Business contact details and the content of enquiries you submit through this website or send to us by email.

From website visitors

• Basic server logs (IP address, page requested, timestamp, user agent) retained for security and diagnostics.

3. How we use information

• To match panel members to relevant research studies.
• To conduct research and produce findings for our clients.
• To verify identity and eligibility, and to detect and prevent fraud, duplicate participation and misuse of our panel.
• To pay research incentives.
• To respond to enquiries and provide our services to clients.
• To meet our legal, tax, accounting and regulatory obligations.

Where we rely on consent — for example to record a session, or to contact you about studies — you may withdraw that consent at any time. Otherwise we process personal information on the basis of our legitimate interest in operating a research business, or to perform a contract with you.

4. How we share information

We do not sell your personal information, and we do not share it with marketers. We share information only in the following circumstances:

• With clients — research findings are reported in aggregate or de-identified form. Where a study requires the client to see recordings or transcripts, we tell you before you take part and obtain your explicit consent.
• With service providers — survey platforms, video conferencing, incentive fulfilment, hosting and email delivery, each bound by contract to process data only on our instructions.
• With research facilities for in-person studies, limited to what is needed to admit you to the session.
• Where legally required — to comply with law, regulation or valid legal process.

5. Retention

Panel profile data is retained while your account is active and for up to 24 months after your last activity, unless you ask us to delete it sooner. Study data is retained for the period agreed with the commissioning client, typically 24 to 36 months, after which it is deleted or irreversibly anonymised. Recordings are deleted at the end of the retention period stated in the consent you gave for that study.

6. Your rights

Depending on the state you live in, you may have the right to access a copy of your personal information, correct it, delete it, opt out of certain processing, withdraw consent, and receive your data in a portable format. Residents of California, Texas, Virginia, Colorado and other states with comprehensive privacy statutes may request disclosure of the categories of information we collect and may opt out of any “sale” or “sharing” of personal information — note that we do not sell or share personal information as those terms are defined under the CCPA/CPRA. As a matter of policy we extend these rights to every panel member, regardless of which state they live in.

To exercise any right, email info@researchstake.com. We respond within 30 days and will never charge you or penalise you for making a request.

7. Security

We use encryption in transit, access controls, least-privilege permissions and audit logging to protect personal information. No system is perfectly secure, but we limit what we collect, restrict who can see it, and delete it when it is no longer needed.

8. Children

Our panel is open only to adults aged 18 and over. Where a study involves minors, participation is arranged and consented to by a parent or legal guardian, and data is handled under the specific protocol agreed for that study.

9. Where we operate

Research Stake conducts research in the United States only, and our panel is open to US residents. Personal information is stored and processed on servers located in the United States. We do not field studies in, or recruit participants from, other countries.

10. Cookies

This website uses only the cookies strictly necessary to serve and secure the site. We do not use advertising cookies or third-party tracking pixels on this site. Individual study platforms hosted on our subdomains may set additional functional cookies, which are described within each study.

11. Changes to this policy

We will post any material change to this page and update the date above. Where the change affects how we use information you have already given us, we will contact you directly.

12. Contact

Research Stake LLC
2323 Bryan St
Dallas, TX 75201
info@researchstake.com