General Data Protection Regulations 25th May 2018

The EU General Data Protection Regulations come into force in 2018. GDPR  applies to processing and archiving in the public interest, scientific, historical and statistical research purposes. The ethical framework is likely to be adopted in the UK. A bill setting out the UK position is likely late in 2017.


EU, Article 89 allows:-

  1. Broad consent for scientific research where consent cannot be secured for all specific purposes at the outset of data collection.
  2. Further use of personal data for scientific or statistical research as a secondary compatible purpose.
  3. The right of data subjects to object to processing personal data for research purposes unless it is in the public interest.
  4. Restriction of the right of  a data subject to excercise their 'right to erasure' if it is likely to significantly impair processing for scientific research purposes.
  5. Relaxation of storage limitations.
  6. Isolated transfers of personal data to third countries on the basis of expected societal increases in knowledge.

Predictive analytics may be defined as “Technology that learns from experience (data) to predict future behaviour of individuals in order to drive better decisions”(Siegel, 2016).[1]


[1] Individual in this definition is taken to mean organizations as well. For example, corporations are treated as persons under law.

Surveys, focus groups, personal interviews, observations and field trials are commonly used methods.

Market Research is systematic gathering, recording, and analysing data about a specific market or market segment. There are many different tools and techniques that market researchers use to know and understand the market. These include a range of quantitative and qualitative research methods.

Prof Hines is a certified member of the Market Research Society. Proff Hines has worked with clients to achieve customer insights, identify consumer behaviour and understand key determinants of markets and competitor behaviours.


​Identifying market opportunities and actionable insights is an essential part of market research.