JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

The use of web-based approaches to identify, recruit, enroll, survey, and interview health-related research participants has increased over time, with rapid acceleration since the COVID-19 pandemic. These approaches can make research more accessible to a broader population but also increase the risk of fraudulent or imposter participants infiltrating research studies. While this threat has been discussed extensively with respect to quantitative survey research, less has been reported for qualitative and mixed methods studies.

Objective:

Our primary objective is to identify recurring patterns of fraudulent study participation, offer strategies for identification, remediation, and reporting.

Methods:

Two examples of encounters with fraudulent or imposter individuals during recruitment, enrollment, survey distribution, data collection, and focus group sessions in qualitative and mixed methods research studies are presented. Content from both studies were analyzed to identify common themes to develop strategies for prevention and remediation.

Results:

Investigators observed large response volumes over a short period, highly repetitive email addresses, higher than expected proportions of phone numbers with area codes outside the study area, and unusual email/phone responses using atypical language and phrasing. Several imposter or fraudulent individuals disrupted focus group sessions. To mitigate these issues, both studies implemented remediation strategies including enhanced screening procedures at baseline, cross-checking of survey responses and additional verification methods.

Conclusions:

This multi-site study identified multiple ways that imposter or fraudulent participants can infiltrate qualitative and mixed methods research. Web-based qualitative research recruitment poses increasing challenges for researchers, impacting research credibility, participant trust, and data integrity. Lessons learned highlight the importance of real-time analysis by investigators and study staff and the need for a comprehensive approach to prevent and address fraudulent study participation that includes collaboration with recruitment platforms, the Institutional Review Board, and the research community to effectively address this issue.