Diane Bowers (pictured), Casro president, said: “These are not mandated standards. We expect these guidelines will evolve based on changes in the social media environment and research industry. As such, comments, additions and edits are welcome and will be given careful consideration by our task force.”

A draft version of the guidelines was published in August, and the ‘final’ version can be found here.

The publication of these and other social media guidelines and discussion papers sparked plenty of industry debate this summer over whether the same ethical principles that guide survey-based and in-person research can be applied to social media or whether a new approach was needed.

Click here for an overview of the debate, with links to opinion pieces and blog posts. Also check out Time to re-write the rules of research?