While online research is a useful way to reach people who may not take part in in-person studies, researchers are increasingly concerned that fake, automated, and duplicate survey responses can reduce data quality and compromise findings.
A study led by researchers at UC Riverside, the University of Connecticut, Brown University, UCLA, and Fordham University highlights the importance of rigorous participant verification procedures in online health research, particularly when studies recruit hardly reached populations and offer compensation for participation.
Published in the journal AIDS and Behavior, the study enrolled young gay and bisexual men in the United States who used stimulants in an online randomized controlled trial. The trial evaluated a video-based informed consent intervention designed to improve the quality and ethical validity of participants’ consent.
Participants…
Trust your gut feeling—if a transaction or a conversation feels pressured, overly emotional, or “off,” stop all communication immediately and seek a second opinion from a trusted friend or professional.