scholarly journals The Ethics of Outsourcing Online Survey Research

2012 ◽  
pp. 160-175
Author(s):  
Peter J. Allen ◽  
Lynne D. Roberts
Keyword(s):  
Survey Research ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
Limited Attention ◽  
Web Surveys ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Research Software ◽  
Research Students

The increasing level of Internet penetration over the last decade has made web surveying a viable option for data collection in academic research. Software tools and services have been developed to facilitate the development and deployment of web surveys. Many academics and research students are outsourcing the design and/or hosting of their web surveys to external service providers, yet ethical issues associated with this use have received limited attention in academic literature. In this article, the authors focus on specific ethical concerns associated with the outsourcing of web surveys with particular reference to external commercial web survey service providers. These include threats to confidentiality and anonymity, the potential for loss of control over decisions about research data, and the reduced credibility of research. Suggested guidelines for academic institutions and researchers in relation to outsourcing aspects of web-based survey research are provided.

scholarly journals The Ethics of Outsourcing Online Survey Research

2010 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 35-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter J. Allen ◽  
Lynne D. Roberts
Keyword(s):  
Survey Research ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
Limited Attention ◽  
Web Surveys ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Research Software ◽  
Research Students

The increasing level of Internet penetration over the last decade has made web surveying a viable option for data collection in academic research. Software tools and services have been developed to facilitate the development and deployment of web surveys. Many academics and research students are outsourcing the design and/or hosting of their web surveys to external service providers, yet ethical issues associated with this use have received limited attention in academic literature. In this article, the authors focus on specific ethical concerns associated with the outsourcing of web surveys with particular reference to external commercial web survey service providers. These include threats to confidentiality and anonymity, the potential for loss of control over decisions about research data, and the reduced credibility of research. Suggested guidelines for academic institutions and researchers in relation to outsourcing aspects of web-based survey research are provided.

Legal and Ethical Issues of Collecting and Using Online Hospitality Data

2021 ◽  
pp. 193896552110404
Author(s):  
Betsy Stringam ◽  
John H. Gerdes ◽  
Chris K. Anderson
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
The United States ◽  
District Court ◽  
Institutional Research ◽  
Online Data ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Online Databases ◽  
Legal And Ethical Issues

In “Web Scraping for Hospitality Research: Overview, Opportunities, and Implications,” Han and Anderson present the tools and methods for collecting online data through data scraping. Although the article describes in detail the processes for gathering data, and presented recent court rulings that allow data scraping in the United States, it did not adequately address the ethical collection of online data. The internet has opened up new opportunities to research interesting questions and to collect data much faster than has been possible in the past. The emergence of online databases and social media sites enables new lines of research while at the same time introducing new ethical questions for both researchers and institutional research boards (IRBs). Using web-based data for research is not new. However, as Han and Anderson point out, a 2019 ruling ( HiQ Labs, Inc. v. LinkedIn Corporation, appeal from the United States District Court) has redefined what is legal in online data collection. In the following, we highlight some of the key legal and ethical issues around the use of scraped data for academic research with the intent of ensuring researchers, reviewers, and editors are cognizant of some of these (evolving) issues.

Undergraduate healthcare ethics education, moral resilience, and the role of ethical theories

2013 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 385-401 ◽  
Author(s):  
Settimio Monteverde
Keyword(s):  
Learning Theory ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Ethics Education ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Student Evaluation ◽  
Daily Practice ◽  
Healthcare Ethics ◽  
Ethical Theories ◽  
Research Students ◽  
Moral Resilience

Background: This article combines foundational and empirical aspects of healthcare education and develops a framework for teaching ethical theories inspired by pragmatist learning theory and recent work on the concept of moral resilience. It describes an exemplary implementation and presents data from student evaluation. Objectives: After a pilot implementation in a regular ethics module, the feasibility and acceptance of the novel framework by students were evaluated. Research design: In addition to the regular online module evaluation, specific questions referring to the teaching of ethical theories were added using simple (yes/no) and Likert rating answer formats. Participants and research context: At the Bern University of Applied Sciences, a total of 93 students from 2 parallel sub-cohorts of the bachelor’s program in nursing science were sent the online survey link after having been exposed to the same modular contents. A total of 62% of all students participated in the survey. Ethical considerations: The survey was voluntary and anonymous. Students were free to write their name and additional comments. Findings: Students consider ethical theories—as taught within the proposed framework—as practically applicable, useful, and transferable into practice. Discussion: Teaching ethical theories within the proposed framework overcomes the shortcomings described by current research. Students do not consider the mutually exclusive character of ethical theories as an insurmountable problem. Conclusion: The proposed framework is likely to promote the effectiveness of healthcare ethics education. Inspired by pragmatist learning theory, it enables students to consider ethical theories as educative playgrounds that help them to “frame” and “name” the ethical issues they encounter in daily practice, which is seen as an expression of moral resilience. Since it does not advocate a single ethical theory, but is open to the diversity of traditions that shape ethical thinking, it promotes a culturally sensitive, ethically reflected healthcare practice.

scholarly journals Suspicious and fraudulent online survey participation: Introducing the REAL framework

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 205979912110504
Author(s):  
Jennifer Lawlor ◽  
Carl Thomas ◽  
Andrew T Guhin ◽  
Kendra Kenyon ◽  
Matthew D Lerner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Survey Research ◽  
Survey Data ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Data Collection And Analysis ◽  
Survey Participation ◽  
Guiding Questions

Online survey research has significantly increased in popularity in recent years. With its use, researchers have a new set of concerns about data collection and analysis to consider, including the possibility of fraudulent survey submissions. The purpose of this article is to demonstrate to survey researchers an innovative and systematized process for addressing online survey fraud over the course of collecting survey data, especially when respondents collect incentives for participation. We provide the Reflect, Expect, Analyze, Label Framework, which includes four sets of guiding questions for use by online survey researchers to plan for addressing survey fraud and making determinations about the inclusion or exclusion of participant submissions from the dataset based on level of suspicion. We also provide a full case example utilizing the Reflect, Expect, Analyze, Label Framework as an appendix. Those wanting to apply the Reflect, Expect, Analyze, Label Framework should keep in mind several considerations as they apply it, including determining logistical needs ahead of survey implementation, considering the ethical issues related to including or excluding data in a study, and considering the issues related to providing incentives for participating in research. Future research should assess the frequency of survey fraud, investigate the reasons for its occurrence and explore the role social networks may play in fraudulent participants sharing information. We suggest that researchers consider online survey fraud as an issue over the lifespan of their survey and apply the guiding questions we present to address the issue throughout.

scholarly journals Using Internet surveys to gather research data from teachers: Trials and tribulations

2002 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mike Carbonaro ◽  
Joyce Bainbridge ◽  
Brenda Wolodko
Keyword(s):  
Survey Research ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Research Data ◽  
Educational Setting ◽  
Line Contact ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Specific Approach ◽  
Survey Techniques ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Internet Surveys

The paper describes one specific approach to implementing web based survey research and reviews a range of online survey techniques. The advantages and disadvantages of various web based survey approaches are discussed. The paper describes one research project that used an 'off line contact-online response' in an educational setting. The researchers conclude that it is not possible to describe one process that would work well in all situations, given the variations in the way technology is currently utilised in schools and homes. The paper discusses the problems encountered and makes suggestions for future web based survey research.

Exploring Barriers to Doctoral Education in Communication Sciences and Disorders: Insights From Practicing Professionals

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (6) ◽  
pp. 1552-1563
Author(s):  
Denise A. Tucker ◽  
Mary V. Compton ◽  
Sarah J. Allen ◽  
Robert Mayo ◽  
Celia Hooper ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Doctoral Students ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
Doctoral Degree ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Doctoral Study ◽  
Doctoral Research ◽  
Part Time ◽  
Advance Research ◽  
Doctor Of Philosophy

Purpose The intended purpose of this research note is to share the findings of a needs assessment online survey of speech and hearing professionals practicing in North Carolina to explore their interest in pursuing a research-focused PhD in Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) and to document their perceptions of barriers to pursing a PhD in CSD. In view of the well-documented shortage of doctor of philosophy (PhD) faculty to attract, retain, and mentor doctoral students to advance research and to prepare future speech and hearing professionals, CSD faculty must assess the needs, perceptions, and barriers prospective students encounter when considering pursuing a doctoral research degree in CSD. Method The article describes the results of a survey of 242 speech and hearing professionals to investigate their interest in obtaining an academic research-focused PhD in CSD and to solicit their perceived barriers to pursuing a research doctoral degree in CSD. Results Two thirds of the respondents (63.6%) reported that they had considered pursuing a PhD in CSD. Desire for knowledge, desire to teach, and work advancement were the top reasons given for pursuing a PhD in CSD. Eighty-two percent of respondents had no interest in traditional full-time study. Forty-two percent of respondents indicated that they would be interested in part-time and distance doctoral study. The barriers of time, distance, and money emerged as those most frequently identified barriers by respondents. Conclusion The implications inform higher education faculty on how they can best address the needs of an untapped pool of prospective doctoral students in CSD.

Suicide-Bereaved Individuals’ Attitudes Toward Therapists

Crisis ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 135-141 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erin F. Ward-Ciesielski ◽  
Madeline D. Wielgus ◽  
Connor B. Jones
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health Treatment ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
The United States ◽  
Limited Attention ◽  
Time Of Death ◽  
Loved One ◽  
Important Group ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
Suicide Bereaved ◽  
Research Domain

Background: Suicide-bereaved individuals represent an important group impacted by suicide. Understanding their experiences following the suicide of a loved one is an important research domain, despite receiving limited attention. Although suicide-bereaved individuals may benefit from mental health treatment, their attitudes toward therapy and therapists are poorly understood. Aims: The present study aimed to understand the extent to which bereaved individuals’ attitudes toward therapy and therapists are impacted by whether their loved one was in therapy at the time of death. Method: Suicide-bereaved individuals (N = 243) from the United States were recruited to complete an online survey about their experience with and attitudes toward therapy and therapists following the suicide of a loved one. Results: Bereaved individuals whose loved one was in therapy at the time of death (N = 48, 19.8%) reported more negative and less positive attitudes toward the treating therapist than those whose loved one was not in therapy at the time of death (N = 81, 33.3%) or whose loved one was never in therapy/the deceased’s therapy status was unknown (N = 114, 46.9%). Conclusion: The deceased’s involvement with a therapist appears to be an important factor impacting the experience of bereaved individuals and should be considered when attempting to engage these individuals in postvention.

Fraud Detection Protocol for Web-Based Research Among Men Who Have Sex With Men: Development and Descriptive Evaluation (Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
April M Ballard ◽  
Trey Cardwell ◽  
April M Young
Keyword(s):  
Survey Research ◽  
Hiv Transmission ◽  
Personal Information ◽  
Fraud Detection ◽  
Detection Algorithm ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Young Msm ◽  
Data Survey ◽  
Sex With Men

BACKGROUND Internet is becoming an increasingly common tool for survey research, particularly among “hidden” or vulnerable populations, such as men who have sex with men (MSM). Web-based research has many advantages for participants and researchers, but fraud can present a significant threat to data integrity. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this analysis was to evaluate fraud detection strategies in a Web-based survey of young MSM and describe new protocols to improve fraud detection in Web-based survey research. METHODS This study involved a cross-sectional Web-based survey that examined individual- and network-level risk factors for HIV transmission and substance use among young MSM residing in 15 counties in Central Kentucky. Each survey entry, which was at least 50% complete, was evaluated by the study staff for fraud using an algorithm involving 8 criteria based on a combination of geolocation data, survey data, and personal information. Entries were classified as fraudulent, potentially fraudulent, or valid. Descriptive analyses were performed to describe each fraud detection criterion among entries. RESULTS Of the 414 survey entries, the final categorization resulted in 119 (28.7%) entries identified as fraud, 42 (10.1%) as potential fraud, and 253 (61.1%) as valid. Geolocation outside of the study area (164/414, 39.6%) was the most frequently violated criterion. However, 33.3% (82/246) of the entries that had ineligible geolocations belonged to participants who were in eligible locations (as verified by their request to mail payment to an address within the study area or participation at a local event). The second most frequently violated criterion was an invalid phone number (94/414, 22.7%), followed by mismatching names within an entry (43/414, 10.4%) and unusual email addresses (37/414, 8.9%). Less than 5% (18/414) of the entries had some combination of personal information items matching that of a previous entry. CONCLUSIONS This study suggests that researchers conducting Web-based surveys of MSM should be vigilant about the potential for fraud. Researchers should have a fraud detection algorithm in place prior to data collection and should not rely on the Internet Protocol (IP) address or geolocation alone, but should rather use a combination of indicators.

Patient and Provider Perspectives Regarding Criteria for Patient Prioritization in Rehabilitation Programs (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julien Déry ◽  
Angel Ruiz ◽  
François Routhier ◽  
Marie-Pierre Gagnon ◽  
André Côté ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Service Providers ◽  
Quebec City ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Rehabilitation Programs ◽  
Provider Perspectives ◽  
Patient Prioritization ◽  
Services Sociaux ◽  
Multiple Case ◽  
Patient And Provider Perspectives

BACKGROUND Queueing patients on waiting lists is a common practice to manage access to rehabilitation services. To increase fairness and equity in access, a strategy emerging from the literature is patient prioritization. The goal is for patients with the greatest needs to be treated first and for patient wait times to be determined objectively on the basis of explicit criteria. Selecting criteria, however, is a complex task because it is important to simultaneously consider the objectives of all stakeholders. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to compare service users’ and service providers’ perspectives regarding patient prioritization criteria in two rehabilitation programs. METHODS We conducted a multiple case study in two rehabilitation programs at the Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux de la Capitale-Nationale in Quebec City (Canada), i.e. a driving evaluation program (DEP) and a compression garment manufacturing program (CGMP). We sent a web-based survey asking two groups (patients and providers) of informed stakeholders to individually produce a set of criteria. We then conducted an inductive thematic analysis where each group’s individual answers were coded and combined in a single set of criteria. RESULTS Stakeholders from the DEP identified a total of 22 criteria to prioritize patients while those from the CGMP listed 27 criteria. Providers shared 76% of the criteria mentioned by patients. Some criteria, such as age, occupation, functional level, pain, absence of caregiver, and time since referral, were considered important by both stakeholders in both programs. CONCLUSIONS Patients and providers tended to have similar opinions about a majority of the criteria to prioritize patients in waitlists. Nonetheless, our study confirms that patients and providers base their choices on different types of knowledge and values, which explains some of the differences observed. Taking into consideration the opinions of all stakeholders concerning prioritization criteria is an important part of the decision-making process, based on a multiple constituency approach.

A Web-Based Interactive Map to Promote Health-Care Facility Flood Preparedness

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Elena Grossman ◽  
Michelle Hathaway ◽  
Amber Khan ◽  
Apostolis Sambanis ◽  
Samuel Dorevitch
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Emergency Preparedness ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Care Facility ◽  
Health Care Facility ◽  
Health Care Facilities ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Care Facilities ◽  
Interactive Map

Abstract Objectives: Little is known about how flood risk of health-care facilities (HCFs) is evaluated by emergency preparedness professionals and HCFs administrators. This study assessed knowledge of emergency preparedness and HCF management professionals regarding locations of floodplains in relation to HCFs. A Web-based interactive map of floodplains and HCF was developed and users of the map were asked to evaluate it. Methods: An online survey was completed by administrators of HCFs and public health emergency preparedness professionals in Illinois, before and after an interactive online map of floodplains and HCFs was provided. Results: Forty Illinois HCFs located in floodplains were identified, including 12 long-term care facilities. Preparedness professionals have limited knowledge of whether local HCFs were in floodplains, and few reported availability of geographic information system (GIS) resources at baseline. Respondents intended to use the interactive map for planning and stakeholder communications. Conclusions: Given that HCFs are located in floodplains, this first assessment of using interactive maps of floodplains and HCFs may promote a shift to reliable data sources of floodplain locations in relation to HCFs. Similar approaches may be useful in other settings.

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