Privacy Policy (POPIA)

Privacy Policy

Last Updated: October 2025

1. Introduction

Welcome to Researchworx Consulting (“Researchworx”, “we”, “our”, or “us”).
We value your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal information in compliance with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) of South Africa and applicable international data protection standards.

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect your information when you use our survey platform, research tools, or any related services (“the Platform”).

By accessing or using our Platform, you agree to the terms of this Privacy Policy.

2. Information We Collect

We collect the following types of information depending on your interaction with our platform:

2.1. Information You Provide Directly

• Account Information: Name, surname, email address, password, organisation/institution, and contact details.
• Profile Information: Demographic data, research interests, or participant preferences.
• Survey Responses: Information you submit while participating in surveys, research studies, or feedback forms.
• Payment/Subscription Information: If applicable, billing details and transaction records for premium research tools.
• Support Queries: Any correspondence or communication you send to us for assistance.

2.2. Information Collected Automatically

• IP address, device information, browser type, access times, and referring pages.
• Platform usage data (e.g., pages visited, time spent, actions taken).
• Cookies or similar technologies that improve performance and user experience (see Section 7).

3. How We Use Your Information

We process your personal information for legitimate business and research purposes, including:

• To create and manage user accounts (for researchers and participants).
• To facilitate survey participation and ensure data integrity.
• To analyse platform usage and improve our services.
• To communicate with users regarding research projects, platform updates, and service notifications.
• To ensure compliance with legal obligations and ethical research standards.
• To protect system security and prevent fraud or misuse.

We only use your information for the purposes for which it was collected or for related, compatible purposes.

4. Data Sharing and Disclosure

We respect the confidentiality of your data and will not sell or rent your personal information.
We may share information under the following circumstances:

• With Researchers: Survey responses may be shared anonymously with approved researchers for academic or institutional research purposes.
• With Service Providers: We use trusted third-party vendors for data hosting, analytics, and technical support, bound by strict confidentiality agreements.
• For Legal Requirements: Where disclosure is required by law, court order, or regulatory authority.
• With Consent: Where you explicitly consent to sharing your data for specific purposes.

5. Data Retention

We retain personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purpose for which it was collected or as required by law.
Survey responses used for research are typically anonymised and may be stored for statistical analysis or academic publication without identifying participants.

6. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your data against unauthorised access, loss, or misuse. These include encryption, secure data storage, regular backups, and restricted access to sensitive information.
While we strive to ensure security, no online system is 100% secure, and users share data at their own risk.

7. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Our platform uses cookies and similar technologies to:

• Improve performance and user experience
• Remember login preferences
• Track survey completion rates and site analytics

You can manage or disable cookies through your browser settings. However, doing so may limit certain functionalities of the platform.

8. Your Rights

Under POPIA and other data protection laws, you have the right to:

• Access the personal data we hold about you
• Request correction or deletion of inaccurate or unnecessary data
• Withdraw consent at any time
• Object to certain types of data processing
• Lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator of South Africa

Requests may be sent to privacy@researchworx.co.za.

9. Data Transfers

If data is transferred outside South Africa, we ensure it is done in compliance with applicable data protection laws and adequate safeguards are in place to protect your information.

10. Children’s Privacy

Our platform is intended for users 18 years and older. We do not knowingly collect personal information from minors without parental or institutional consent.

11. Updates to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our operations or legal requirements. The “Last Updated” date above will indicate the most recent revision.
Continued use of the platform after updates signifies acceptance of the revised policy.