{"id":28972,"date":"2025-12-31T14:53:04","date_gmt":"2025-12-31T22:53:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.spokeo.com\/compass\/?p=28972"},"modified":"2025-12-19T14:53:52","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T22:53:52","slug":"what-is-dynata-research","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.spokeo.com\/compass\/what-is-dynata-research\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Dynata Research, and Why Are They Calling? We\u2019ve Got Answers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

We use our phones for a lot of things. For most of us, they\u2019re our bank, our camera, our encyclopedia, our news source, our pocket television set, or even our private dispatcher when we need a lift somewhere. Sometimes \u2014 shocker! \u2014 we even use them to make or receive telephone calls. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, a lot of those calls come from marketing companies, pollsters, fundraisers, and, of course, scammers. One such prolific caller is a survey\/market research company called Dynata. If you\u2019ve fielded one of those calls and wondered \u201cwhat is Dynata?\u201d or \u201cis Dynata a scam?\u201d we have the answers you\u2019re looking for. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Dynata? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Dynata is in the information business. It\u2019s the world\u2019s largest first-party data company, which means they collect their own data directly rather than relying primarily on public sources or buying and recycling other companies\u2019 research (as many other data brokerages do). Over the past couple of decades, it\u2019s become a commonplace observation that we now live in an information- and data-driven economy. Dynata\u2019s business model revolves around supplying their thousands of clients with the data and analytics they need to make well-grounded projections and business decisions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They do this mostly by reaching out directly to millions of consumers and business people, and asking them to answer questions. It\u2019s a more straightforward and ethical approach than (for example) surreptitiously hoovering up data from your social media accounts, or loading up your browser with tracking cookies and following you around the internet, both of which are common practices in the digital marketing industry.\u00a0 Dynata\u2019s Privacy Policy<\/a> is also concise and easy to understand, in a rare display of transparency in the industry.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Why is Dynata Research Calling? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Dynata might reach out to you either in your work capacity, as someone who\u2019s active in your specific industry, or in your private capacity as a consumer. Its customers cut across pretty much every niche you can imagine, from political organizations to news outlets to not-for-profits to manufacturers and service providers. At the time of writing, for example, recent case studies<\/a> on the company\u2019s website included Air France, Virgin Media, and numerous marketing companies.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So the short version is that they\u2019re calling because somebody out there will pay them for your opinion on just about anything<\/em>. You might be asked for your level of optimism or dread about the coming year, which candidate you favor in an upcoming election, or which features you consider make-or-break in your next major purchase. Whatever the client wants, they\u2019ll keep on plugging until they\u2019ve accumulated enough responses to provide reliable information. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"woman<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Should I Participate in Dynata Surveys? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s no single answer to that question, because it\u2019s really up to you. The surveys can range from just a few minutes in length to as much as an hour, and most campaigns don\u2019t offer any incentive for participation. If you never have enough hours in your day, or just plain resent telemarketers with a burning passion, you\u2019ll probably want to pass. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the other hand, most of us don\u2019t get a lot of opportunities to make ourselves heard directly by the companies we deal with. Getting the opportunity to sound off about our hopes and fears, what we like or dislike, and the things that would ensure our loyalty (or, on the flip side, an enduring grudge) isn\u2019t something that comes along every day. You\u2019ll also have the option of skipping any questions you\u2019re not comfortable answering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The upside\/downside here is that if you\u2019ve answered one survey, you\u2019re more likely to be contacted in the future. It takes a lot of calls to find someone who\u2019s willing to talk, so of course, companies like Dynata cherish their internal lists of those who are likely to help out (it\u2019s more cost-effective). The added calls will be an annoyance \u2014 most of us already get lots \u2014 but on the other hand, it means you may have the opportunity to have a disproportionate impact on companies\u2019 decisions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beware of Scammers Posing as Dynata Representatives <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although Dynata itself is a completely legitimate company, that doesn\u2019t necessarily mean every call that claims<\/em> to come from Dynata is legitimate. After all, scammers cheerfully impersonate callers from Amazon<\/a>, Apple<\/a>, and even the IRS<\/a>, so it\u2019s no great leap for them to pretend to be calling from Dynata. In fact, it makes great sense: a lot of us would be deeply suspicious of an unsolicited call from Apple or the IRS, but Dynata\u2019s in the business of making unsolicited calls.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re the one taking the call, there are some fairly obvious ways to know if it\u2019s legitimate or not.  Remember, Dynata is interested in your opinions, while scammers want your money or private information. In practice, it\u2019s not hard to figure out which is which. For example: <\/p>\n\n\n\n