An outline of the mission, philosophy and operating principles of the TARKI group

(Draft translation of the Tarki Code of Conduct)

The operational rules of the activities of TARKI are described in our basic organisational statutes. A statement of our philosophy and mission is given in the present document.

The central area of activity of the TARKI group is applied empirical social research.

TARKI's most valuable asset is its good reputation. The features that have earned TARKI this good reputation, which it is committed to maintain, are its independence; the professional quality of its activities and products; and its balanced and open approach.

Independence. In developing its business policies and targeting its potential clients, TARKI seeks to ensure that it can preserve its independence at all times. This means that TARKI's management shall apply business policies that prevent any and all interest groups, political or economic, from gaining a position of influence that leads to a financial dependence which might in any way jeopardise the reliability and validity of the published analyses and evaluations.

Professional quality. The key to valid and reliable analyses is an uncompromising commitment to sound professional standards. For this reason, the level of professionalism is the most important measure in assessing all those who work for TARKI. The ultimate measure in the internal evaluation system cannot be any other consideration but professional achievement. TARKI's scientific analyses shall without exception conform to the most up-to-date methodological standards of systematic, analytical, empirical research.

Balanced interpretation. Balanced interpretation is a trademark feature of all analyses produced by TARKI. The analyses of empirical findings shall make manifest that whatever critical conclusions are derived from them, and whatever suggestions are based on them, they may have both desirable and unwelcome consequences when put into practice. These positive and negative aspects are invariably pointed out in the studies prepared by researchers at TARKI.

Openness. TARKI never succumbs to either political or professional preconceptions in its activities or in the process of delivering its professional products. The researchers at TARKI strictly adhere to the findings of their ongoing research and to their experiences of previous professional studies in drawing research conclusions from their analyses. Professional openness also involves disciplinary openness. TARKI's analyses build on the results of a diverse range of empirical social research fields (sociology, economics, political science, demography) and a variety of analytical methods (statistics, mathematics). TARKI's political openness means that TARKI welcomes clients from any organisation and clients representing any view provided that they respect the rules of democracy as a matter of principle. TARKI, however, rejects commissions that may invoke the possibility that TARKI's findings may be used directly or indirectly to justify any kind of action seeking to undermine the values of democracy.

The day-to-day operations of TARKI are conducted to maintain, at least, self-sufficiency, and possibly achieve growth, through performing empirical social research activities while observing the above criteria.