Preventing and mitigating fraudulent research participants in online qualitative violence and injury prevention research

Abstract

Background: Recruiting participants for injury and violence-related studies can be challenging, and online data collection opportunities can expand reach, offer convenience and extend a sense of safety to potential participants who may be in unsafe situations or do not want to travel to a location due to safety concerns. While increasing accessibility for some participants, online primary data collection presents challenges around potential fraudulent participants. This methodological paper highlights the strategies for preventing and mitigating fraudulent participants in online qualitative data collection, using a recent firearm violence study in a Northeast city as an example.

Purpose: Using a recent data collection effort related to firearm injury as a case study, the purpose of the current methodology paper is to highlight concerns and challenges with online qualitative data collection and provide strategies for preventing, detecting and removing fraudulent participants in qualitative injury and violence prevention research.

Results: Various predata collection activities can promote a study design that deters fraudulent participants, and additional 'in-the-moment' data collection activities can flag potential suspicious participants. Strategies include prescreening participants, requiring video and answers to basic questions relevant to the study topic and confirming certain pieces of information.

Conclusion: Online primary data collection can increase accessibility and support the safety of participants in injury and violence research, and there are considerations around detecting and removing fraudulent participants that researchers should note. Like all methods, a balance exists between study access, aims and resources. Researchers new to online qualitative data collection can use the strategies outlined here.

Keywords: health equity; qualitative research; social sciences.