Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-jkksz Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-24T18:48:17.992Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Detecting, Preventing, and Responding to “Fraudsters” in Internet Research: Ethics and Tradeoffs

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2021

Jennifer E. F. Teitcher ,
Walter O. Bockting ,
José A. Bauermeister ,
Chris J. Hoefer ,
Michael H. Miner  and
Robert L. Klitzman
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

Research that recruits and surveys participants online is increasing, but is subject to fraud whereby study respondents — whether eligible or ineligible — participate multiple times. Online Internet research can provide investigators with large sample sizes and is cost efficient. Internet-based research also provides distance between the researchers and participants, allowing the participant to remain confidential and/or anonymous, and thus to respond to questions freely and honestly without worrying about the stigma associated with their answers. However, increasing and recurring instances of fraudulent activity among subjects raise challenges for researchers and Institutional Review Boards (IRBs). The distance from participants, and the potential anonymity and convenience of online research allow for individuals to participate easily more than once, skewing results and the overall quality of the data.

Type
Independent
Information
Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics , Volume 43 , Issue 1 , Spring 2015 , pp. 116 - 133
Copyright
Copyright © American Society of Law, Medicine and Ethics 2015

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Pequegnat, W. Simon Rosser, B. R. Bowen, A. M. Bull, S. S. DiClemente, R. J. Bockting, W. O. Elford, J.et al, “Conducting Internet-based HIV/STD Prevention Survey Research: Considerations in Design and Evaluation,” AIDS and Behavior 11, no4 (2007): 505–521.Google Scholar
Bauermeister, J. A. Pingel, E. Zimmerman, M. Couper, M. Carballo-Diéguez, A. Strecher, V. J., “Data Quality in HIV/AIDS Web-Based Surveys Handling Invalid and Suspicious Data,” Field Methods 24, no3 (2012): 272–291;.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bauermeister, J. A. Zimmerman, M. A. Johns, M. M. Glowacki, P. Stoddard, S. Volz, E., “Innovative Recruitment Using Online Networks: Lessons Learned from an Online Study of Alcohol and Other Drug Use Utilizing a Web-Based, Respondent-Driven Sampling (webRDS) Strategy,” Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs 73, no5 (2012): 834;.Google Scholar
Bowen, A. M. Daniel, C. M. Williams, M. L. Baird, G. L., “Identifying Multiple Submissions in Internet Research: Preserving Data Integrity,” AIDS and Behavior 12, no6 (2008): 964–973;.Google Scholar
Kraut, R. Olson, J. Banaji, M. Bruckman, A. Cohen, J. Couper, M., “Psychological Research Online: Report of Board of Scientific Affairs' Advisory Group on the Conduct of Research on the Internet,” American Psychologist 59, no2 (2004): 105.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bartell, A. L. Spyridakis, J. H., “Managing Risk in Internet-Based Survey Research,” in Professional Communication Conference (IPCC), 2012 IEEE International, at 1–6;.Google Scholar
Birnbaum, M. H., “Human Research and Data Collection via the Internet,” Annual Review of Psychology 55 (2004): 803–832;.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gosling, S. D. Vazire, S. Srivastava, S. John, O. P., “Should We Trust Web-Based Studies? A Comparative Analysis of Six Preconceptions about Internet Questionnaires,” American Psychologist 59, no2 (2004): 93–104;.Google Scholar
Konstan, J. A. Simon Rosser, B. R. Ross, M. W. Stanton, J. Edwards, W. M., “The Story of Subject Naught: A Cautionary but Optimistic Tale of Internet Survey Research,” Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication 10, no2 (2005);.Google Scholar
Miner, M. H. Bockting, W. O. Swinburne Romine, R. Raman, S., “Conducting Internet Research with the Transgender Population: Reaching Broad Samples and Collecting Valid Data,” Social Science Computer review 30, no2 (2012): 202–211;.Google Scholar
Musch, J. Reips, U-D., “A Brief History of Web Experimenting,” in Birnbaum, M. H., ed., Psychological Experiments on the Internet (San Diego: Elsevier, 2000): 61–87;.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mustanski, B. S., “Getting wired: Exploiting the Internet for the Collection of Valid Sexuality Data,” Journal of Sex Research 38, no4 (2001): 292–301;.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nosek, B. A. Banaji, M. R. Greenwald, A. G., “E-Research: Ethics, Security, Design, and Control in Psychological Research on the Internet,” Journal of Social Issues 58, no1 (2002): 161–176;.Google Scholar
Reips, U.-D., “Internet-Based Psychological Experimenting Five Dos and Five Don'ts,” Social Science Computer Review 20, no3 (2002): 241–249;.Google Scholar
Reips, U.-D., “Standards for Internet-Based Experimenting,” Experimental Psychology (formerly Zeitschrift für Experimentelle Psychologie) 49, no4 (2002): 243–256;.Google Scholar
Riggle, E. D. B. Rostosky, S. S. Reedy, C. S., “Online Surveys for BGLT Research: Issues and Techniques,” Journal of Homosexuality 49, no2 (2005): 1–21;.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
see also Bauermeister, , “Data Quality in HIV/AIDS Web-Based Surveys Handling Invalid and Suspicious Data,” supra note 2;.Google Scholar
Bauermeister, , “Innovative Recruitment Using Online Networks: Lessons Learned from an Online Study of Alcohol and Other Drug Use Utilizing a Web-Based, Respondent-Driven Sampling (webRDS) Strategy,” supra note 2;.Google Scholar
Kraut, , supra note 2.Google Scholar
See Bauermeister, “Data Quality in HIV/AIDS Web-Based Surveys Handling Invalid and Suspicious Data,” supra note 2.Google Scholar
Swinburne Romine, R. Miner, M. H. Gonzalez, C. Hoefer, C. Bockting, W. O., “The Effects of Fraudulent Respondents on Internet-Based Research with Hard to Reach Populations: Experience from All Gender Health Online,” >unpublished manuscript (2014).unpublished+manuscript+(2014).>Google Scholar
Sanger, D. E. Pelroth, N., “Chinese Hackers Resume Attacks on U.S. Target,” New York Times, May 19, 2013.Google Scholar
See Birnbaum, , supra note 3;.Google Scholar
Musch, Reips, , supra note 3;.Google Scholar
Reips, “Internet-Based Psychological Experimenting Five Dos and Five Don'ts,” supra note 3, Reips, “Standards for Internet-Based Experimenting,” supra note 3.Google Scholar
See Reips, “Standards for Internet-Based Experimenting,” supra note 3.Google Scholar
See Bauermeister, “Data Quality in HIV/AIDS Web-Based Surveys Handling Invalid and Suspicious Data,” supra note 2;.Google Scholar
Gosling, , supra note 3.Google Scholar
See Birnbaum, , supra note 3.Google Scholar
Id.; Gosling, , supra note 3.Google Scholar
See Reips, , “Standards for Internet-Based Experimenting,” supra note 3.Google Scholar
See Mustanski, , supra note 3.Google Scholar
Id, at 297.Google Scholar
See Birnbaum, , supra note 3.Google Scholar
See Bowen, , supra note 2.Google Scholar
Manzo, A. N. Burke, J. M., “Increasing Response Rate in Web-Based/Internet Surveys,” in Gideon, L., ed., Handbook of Survey Methodology for the Social Sciences (New York: Springer, 2012): At 327–343.Google Scholar
Göritz, A. S., “Incentives in Web Studies: Methodological Issues and a Review,” International Journal of Internet Science 1, no1 (2006): 58–70.Google Scholar
Neumann, B. Göritz, A. S. The Longitudinal Effect of Incentives on Participation and Data Quality in Online Panels, paper presented at the General Online Research Conference (GOR) 2010, May 27, 2010, available at <http://www.websm.org/db/12/13905/Bibliography/The_longitudinal_effect_of_incentives_on_participation_and_data_quality_in_online_panels/> (last visited February 19, 2015).Google Scholar
See Bowen, , supra note 2;.Google Scholar
Mustanski, , supra note 3;.Google Scholar
Riggle, , supra note 3.Google Scholar
See Konstan, , supra note 3.Google Scholar
See Bauermeister, , “Data Quality in HIV/AIDS We&Based Surveys Handling Invalid and Suspicious Data,” supra note 2.Google Scholar
See Bauermeister, “Innovative Recruitment Using Online Networks: Lessons Learned from an Online Study of Alcohol and Other Drug Use Utilizing a Web-Based, Respondent-Driven Sampling (webRDS) Strategy,” supra note 2.Google Scholar
See Bowen, , supra note 2.Google Scholar
Bauermeister, J. A. Yeagley, E. Meanley, S. Pingel, E. S., “Sexting among Young Men Who Have Sex with Men: Results from a National Survey,” Journal of Adolescent Health 54, no5 (2014): 606–611.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
See Bowen, , supra note 2.Google Scholar
Moreno, M. A. Fost, N. C. Christakis, D. A., “Research Ethics in the MySpace Era,” Pediatrics 121, no1 (2008): 157–161.Google Scholar
See Bartell, , supra note 3;.Google Scholar
Nosek, , supra note 3.Google Scholar
See Romine, Swinburne, supra note 5.Google Scholar
See Miner, , supra note 3;.Google Scholar
Riggle, , supra note 3.Google Scholar
See Nosek, , supra note 3.Google Scholar
King, M. F. Bruner, G. C., “Social Desirability Bias: A Neglected Aspect of Validity Testing.” Psychology & Marketing 17, no2 (2000): 79–103;.Google Scholar
Randall, D. M. Fernandes, M. F. “The Social Desirability Response Bias in Ethics Research,” Journal of Business Ethics 10, no11 (1991): 805–817.Google Scholar
Von Ahn, L. Blum, M. Hopper, N. J. Langford, J., “CAPTCHA: Using Hard AI Problems for Security,” in Biham, E.ed., Advances in Cryptology – EUROCRYPT 2003 (Berlin: Springer, 2003), 294–311.Google Scholar
Id.; The Official CAPTCHA Site, available at <at www.captcha.net> (last visited February 19, 2015).+(last+visited+February+19,+2015).>Google Scholar
The Official CAPTCHA Site, available at <at www.captcha.net> (last visited February 19, 2015).+(last+visited+February+19,+2015).>Google Scholar
Stieger, S. Reips, U.-D., “What are Participants Doing While Filling in an Online Questionnaire: A Paradata Collection Tool and an Empirical Study,” Computers in Human Behavior 26, no6 (2010): 1488–1495.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
See Miner, , supra note 3.Google Scholar
Sawtooth Software, Pricing and Ordering, available at <http://www.sawtoothsoftware.com/products/pricing-ordering> (last visited February 19, 2015).+(last+visited+February+19,+2015).>Google Scholar
SurveyMonkey, Sign up for your FREE Account, available at <https://www.surveymonkey.com/user/signup/?fefla=neco&d=1&> (last visited February 19, 2015).+(last+visited+February+19,+2015).>Google Scholar
Sawtooth Software, Software, available at <http://www.sawtooth.com/index.php/sawtooth/index.php/> (last visited February 19, 2015).+(last+visited+February+19,+2015).>Google Scholar
SurveyMonkey, Privacy Policy, available at <https://www.surveymonkey.com/mp/policy/privacy-policy/> (last visited February 19, 2015).+(last+visited+February+19,+2015).>Google Scholar
Qualtrics, available at <www.Qualtrics.com> (last visitedFebruary 19, 2015).+(last+visitedFebruary+19,+2015).>Google Scholar
See Bowen, , supra note 2.Google Scholar
Id.Google Scholar
Id.; see also Miner, , supra note 3.Google Scholar
See Bowen, , supra note 2.Google Scholar
See Romine, Swinburne, supra note 5.Google Scholar
See Bauermeister, “Data Quality in HIV/AIDS Web-Based Surveys Handling Invalid and Suspicious Data,” supra note 2.Google Scholar
See Bowen, , supra note 2.Google Scholar
See Bauermeister, “Data Quality in HIV/AIDS Web-Based Surveys Handling Invalid and Suspicious Data,” supra note 2.Google Scholar
Humphreys, L., “Tearoom Trade,” Society 7, no3 (1970): 10–25;.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Humphreys, L. “The Sociologist as Voyeur,” In Golden, M.P. ed., The Research Experience, (Itasca: Peacock, 1976): 101–114.Google Scholar
Ohm, P., “Broken Promises of Privacy: Responding to the Surprising Failure of Anonymization,” UCLA Law Review 57, no6 (2010): 1701–1777.Google Scholar
See Birnbaum, , supra note 3;.Google Scholar
Miner, , supra note 3.Google Scholar
See Bauermeister, “Data Quality in HIV/AIDS Web-Based Surveys Handling Invalid and Suspicious Data,” supra note 2;.Google Scholar
Birnbaum, , supra note 3;.Google Scholar
Bowen, , supra note 2.Google Scholar
See Bauermeister, “Data Quality in HIV/AIDS Web-Based Surveys Handling Invalid and Suspicious Data,” supra note 2;.Google Scholar
Bowen, , supra note 2.Google Scholar
See Romine, Swinburne, supra note 5.Google Scholar
Buchanan, E. J. Aycock, S. Dexter, D. Dittrich, D. Hvizdak, E., “Computer Science Security Research And Human Subjects: Emerging Considerations For Research Ethics Boards,” Journal of Empirical Research on Human Research Ethics 6, no2 (2011): 71–83.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Id.;.Google Scholar
Solove, D. J. Schwartz, P. M., “Reconciling Personal Information in the United States and European Union” (2013) GW Law Faculty Publications & Other Works, Paper 956, available at <http://scholarship.law.gwu.edu/faculty_publications/956> (last visited February 19, 2015).+(last+visited+February+19,+2015).>Google Scholar
Van Gelder, M. M. H. J. Bretveld, R.W. Roeleveld, N., “Web-Based Questionnaires: The Future in Epidemiology?” American Journal of Epidemiology 172, no11 (2010): 1292–1298.Google Scholar
Id.Google Scholar
See, for example, <www.paidsurveysonline.com>; <www.onlinejunkie.com>; <www.ranksurveys.com>; and <www.swagbucks.com>.;+;+;+and+.>Google Scholar
See Romine, , supra note 5.Google Scholar
See Bartell, , supra note 3;.Google Scholar
Reips, , “Standards for Internet-Based Experimenting,” supra note 3.Google Scholar
See Bauermeister, “Data Quality in HIV/AIDS Web-Based Surveys Handling Invalid and Suspicious Data,” supra note 2.Google Scholar
Id.; see also Mustanski, , supra note 3.Google Scholar
See Romine, , supra note 5.Google Scholar
Rosser, B. R. S. Gurak, L. Horvath, K. J. Oakes, J. M. Konstan, J. Danilenko, G., “The Challenges of Ensuring Participant Consent in Internet-Based Sex Studies: A Case Study of the Men's INTernet Sex (MINTS I and II) Studies,” Journal of Computer Mediated Communication 14, no3 (2009): 602–626.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
See Miner, , supra note 3.Google Scholar
Vrij, A., “Why Professionals Fail to Catch Liars and How They Can Improve,” Legal and Criminological Psychology 9, no2 (2004): 159–181.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), available at <http://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx> (last visited February 19, 2015).+(last+visited+February+19,+2015).>Google Scholar
National Institute of Health (NIH), Office of Extramural Research, Certificate of Confidentiality Kiosk, available at <http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/coc> (last visited February 19, 2015).+(last+visited+February+19,+2015).>Google Scholar
See Romine, , supra note 5.Google Scholar
Rosser, B. R. S. Oakes, J. M. Konstan, J. Hooper, S. Horvath, K. J. Danilenko, G. P. Nygaard, K. E. Smolenski, D. J., “Reducing HIV Risk Behavior of MSM through Persuasive Computing: Results of the Men's INTernet Study (MINTS-II),” AIDS 24, no3 (2010): 2099–2107.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
See Bauermeister, , “Data Quality in HIV/AIDS Web-Based Surveys Handling Invalid and Suspicious Data,” supra note 2;.Google Scholar
Bowen, , supra note 2;.Google Scholar
Konstan, , supra note 3;.Google Scholar
Miner, , supra note 3.Google Scholar
IC3.gov, Internet Crime Complaint Center's (IC3) Scam Alerts, available at <http://www.ic3.gov/media/2014/140321.aspx> (last visited February 19, 2015). (last visited February 19, 2015).' href=https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=IC3.gov,+Internet+Crime+Complaint+Center's+(IC3)+Scam+Alerts,+available+at++(last+visited+February+19,+2015).>Google Scholar
See Kraut, , supra note 2, at 115.Google Scholar
See Bauermeister, , “Data Quality in HIV/AIDS Web-Based Surveys Handling Invalid and Suspicious Data,” supra note 2, at 289.Google Scholar
See Bowen, , supra note 2.Google Scholar