QuestBack Hidden Identity
Anonymity in a QuestBack context relates to your identity and your email address. Hidden Identity refers to the link between this email address and the answers that you provide when filling in a Quest. (A QuestBack survey is called a Quest.) If QuestBack customers are able to pull reports where respondents’ email addresses are linked to their answers, then the QuestBack customer will know the identity of the respondents. If Hidden Identity has been used when answering the Quest, this will not be possible.
QuestBack’s database will normally include the identity of the respondents. This is necessary in order to send out invitations and reminders, and also to make it possible for customers to communicate with respondents through the QuestBack system after the completion of a Quest. This, however, is not information that is shared with the customers, and has nothing to do with hidden or not hidden identity.
How does Hidden Identity work?
The company who sends you a Quest acknowledges their responsibility in hiding your identity according to the guidelines described here. As a respondent, it is important that you know how your answers might be used. QuestBack offers its customers a choice of 3 different variations of Hidden Identity:
None
If there is no information about Hidden Identity on the first page of a Quest, or you can’t find a link that provides you with information about Hidden Identity, you can assume that your identity is not hidden. As a result, the QuestBack customer will be able to identify your answers by linking them to your email address.
Optional
Optional Hidden Identity is available if the first page of a Quest features a check box where you can choose whether you wish to hide your identity or not. You will also find a link to information about Hidden Identity.
Required
It is not possible to link your answers to your email address if the following text is displayed on the first page of the Quest: ”Your identity will be hidden, read more about Hidden Identity here…”. You will find a link to information about Hidden Identity.
How does dialogue and follow-up work with Hidden Identity?
Even if you receive follow-up correspondence through the QuestBack service, your identity can still be hidden. QuestBack customers can choose which respondents they wish to enter into a further dialogue with by sending follow-up questions or messages via the QuestBack service. If the respondent’s initial response to the Quest was submitted with Hidden Identity, the QuestBack customer will not be able to see the identity of the follow-up recipient. If you, as a respondent, wish to continue the communication with the QuestBack customer and still hide your identity, you use the link in the email to communicate with the creator of the Quest. The QuestBack customer will receive an email with your response without being able to see your name or email address.
Which factors can affect Hidden Identity?
If you, as a respondent, state your name or give other personal information in a free text question, your identity will no longer be hidden - even if your email address is hidden in the QuestBack report.
If the QuestBack customer has uploaded respondent data that links your identity to your email address, your identity will be revealed. Respondent data can be information such as name, department, age, customer number etc. If you are uncertain as to what type of data that might be linked to you, you should contact the person who created and distributed the Quest. Please note that not all QuestBack customers use respondent data. If you don’t find any information about respondent data in the Quest, this does not necessarily mean that the customer is withholding information from you.
Questions regarding Hidden Identity?
The responsibility of preserving your Hidden Identity lies with the QuestBack customer, not QuestBack. If you need clarification regarding a Quest, please contact the person who sent it to you.
If you have further questions about Hidden Identity and how this is dealt with from a technical perspective, please contact QuestBack Support.
Send your question via our Contact Form or find telephone and address details.
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