JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Data integrity is a priority in any internet research study. It should be maintained to protect the safety and privacy of human participants and to maintain validity and reliability of research findings. However, one noteworthy risk of online research is fraudulent respondent activity. When investigators must utilize anonymous web-based recruitment techniques to reach hidden and expanded populations, steps should be taken to safeguard the integrity of data collected.

Objective:

The purpose of this paper is to present a novel protocol in the form of an anonymous online research data integrity plan (DIP) that outlines steps for securing data integrity while conducting anonymous online data collection.

Methods:

In this paper, we discuss a protocol surrounding the development and implementation of a specific DIP related to a true research fraud experience that occurred in an original large-scale mixed methods study. Four primary steps, each with a set of affiliated procedures, are presented: (1) Defining the Risks, (2) Planning Research Protocols, (3) Securing Data Collection and Recruitment, and (4) Determining Enrollment.

Results:

Following re-launch of one large-scale original study and implementation of the DIP protocol, preliminary analyses demonstrated no fraudulent activity. A pre-post analysis is in process to evaluate the effectiveness of the DIP strategies as of February 2022.

Conclusions:

Implementing an online anonymous DIP could save valuable research time, provides a process to examine data critically, and enables the contribution of rigorous findings to various health fields.