Survey Fraud and the Integrity of Web-Based Survey Research

2021 ◽  
pp. 089011712110375
Author(s):  
Ronli Levi ◽  
Ronit Ridberg ◽  
Melissa Akers ◽  
Hilary Seligman
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Survey Research ◽  
Health Research ◽  
Human Subjects ◽  
Data Integrity ◽  
Public Health Research ◽  
Online Research ◽  
Human Subjects Research ◽  
Online Surveys ◽  
Web Based

Compared to traditional paper surveys, online surveys offer a convenient, efficient, and socially distant way to conduct human subjects research. The popularity of online research has grown in recent decades. However, without proper precautions, false respondents pose a serious risk to data integrity. In this paper, we describe our research team’s own encounter with survey fraud, steps taken to preserve the integrity of our study, and implications for future public health research.

scholarly journals Avatar Web-Based Self-Report Survey System Technology for Public Health Research: Technical Outcome Results and Lessons Learned

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Craig Savel ◽  
Stan Mierzwa ◽  
Pamina M Gorbach ◽  
Samir Souidi ◽  
Michelle Lally ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Research ◽  
The United States ◽  
Public Health Research ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Survey System ◽  
Report Data ◽  
Self Report Data

This paper reports on a specific Web-based self-report data collection system that was developed for a public health research study in the United States. Our focus is on technical outcome results and lessons learned that may be useful to other projects requiring such a solution. The system was accessible from any device that had a browser that can support HTML5. Report findings include: which hardware devices, Web browsers, and operating systems were used, the rate of survey completion, and key considerations for employing Web-based surveys in a clinical trial setting. 

Ethics of Population-Based Research

2007 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 295-299 ◽  
Author(s):  
Holly A. Taylor ◽  
Summer Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Research ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Human Subjects ◽  
Public Health Practice ◽  
Public Health Research ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Health Practice ◽  
Ethical Implications ◽  
Definition Of

Multiple scholars and institutions have asked what distinguishes public health research from public health practice. Most often, they ask in order to have a clear definition of what one does in various public health settings to assess oversight and/or regulation of human subjects research. More importantly, however, whether something is considered public health research or public health practice has real ethical implications in terms of the general moral considerations at stake and the obligations of public health researchers/practitioners to the populations they serve or study.Numerous examples in recent history of research ethics, including the Kennedy Krieger Lead Abatement Study and EPA’s Children’s Environmental Exposure Research Study (CHEERS), suggest that an exploration of the ethics of public health, or more generally population-based research, may be warranted. Although we acknowledge that there are important ethical issues to consider in the implementation of public health practice, we leave that discussion for other authors.

scholarly journals Response rate to an online questionnaire amidst the COVID-19 pandemic in undergraduate students and graduates from a Colombian university

2021 ◽  
Vol 70 (3) ◽  
pp. e95888
Author(s):  
Adalberto Campo-Arias ◽  
John Carlos Pedrozo-Pupo ◽  
Leynin Esther Caamaño-Rocha
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Social Desirability ◽  
Health Research ◽  
Response Rate ◽  
Public Health Research ◽  
Online Research ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Sensitive Issues ◽  
Epidemiology And Public Health

In epidemiology and public health research, caution is necessary when addressing results reported by studies based on the administration of online questionnaires. The most critical limitation in such studies is their impossibility of guaranteeing the representativeness of the sample. However, when having a representative sample is secondary, online questionnaires are an excellent alternative for exploratory studies that seek to obtain information about emerging phenomena quickly and cost-effectively or address sensitive issues, for this approach allows reaching populations difficult to get in contact with using traditional strategies. Online research allows the complete anonymity of participants and ensures they provide a more honest response, regardless of their social desirability, any stigma, or discrimination.

scholarly journals Utilizing asynchronous email interviews for health research: overview of benefits and drawbacks

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle Amri ◽  
Christina Angelakis ◽  
Dilani Logan
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Data Quality ◽  
Health Research ◽  
Geographic Location ◽  
Public Health Research ◽  
Data Accuracy ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
Snowball Sampling ◽  
Face To Face

Abstract Objective Through collating observations from various studies and complementing these findings with one author’s study, a detailed overview of the benefits and drawbacks of asynchronous email interviewing is provided. Through this overview, it is evident there is great potential for asynchronous email interviews in the broad field of health, particularly for studies drawing on expertise from participants in academia or professional settings, those across varied geographical settings (i.e. potential for global public health research), and/or in circumstances when face-to-face interactions are not possible (e.g. COVID-19). Results Benefits of asynchronous email interviewing and additional considerations for researchers are discussed around: (i) access transcending geographic location and during restricted face-to-face communications; (ii) feasibility and cost; (iii) sampling and inclusion of diverse participants; (iv) facilitating snowball sampling and increased transparency; (v) data collection with working professionals; (vi) anonymity; (vii) verification of participants; (viii) data quality and enhanced data accuracy; and (ix) overcoming language barriers. Similarly, potential drawbacks of asynchronous email interviews are also discussed with suggested remedies, which centre around: (i) time; (ii) participant verification and confidentiality; (iii) technology and sampling concerns; (iv) data quality and availability; and (v) need for enhanced clarity and precision.

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