Internet-based research has become useful for data collection, particularly because
it reduces the time and resources required for recruitment. Although participant recruitment
using social media is a scientifically and ethically sound methodology for many studies,
this approach attracts fraudulent participants and Internet bots which can pose serious
threats to sample validity and data integrity. We present several case examples of
research studies in which bots were encountered and the procedures used to address
them. In addition, we provide an overview of strategies researchers can use to mitigate
the risks associated with Internet-based recruitment methods.
KEY WORDS
To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
Purchase one-time access:
Academic & Personal: 24 hour online accessCorporate R&D Professionals: 24 hour online accessOne-time access price info
- For academic or personal research use, select 'Academic and Personal'
- For corporate R&D use, select 'Corporate R&D Professionals'
Subscribe:
Subscribe to Journal of Pediatric Health CareAlready a print subscriber? Claim online access
Already an online subscriber? Sign in
Register: Create an account
Institutional Access: Sign in to ScienceDirect
References
- Out damn bot, out: Recruiting real people into substance use studies on the internet.Substance Abuse. 2020; 41: 3-5
- Ensuring survey research data integrity in the era of internet bots.Quality and Quantity. 2022; 56: 2841-2852
- Threats of bots and other bad actors to data quality following research participant recruitment through social media: Cross-Sectional Questionnaire.Journal of Medical Internet Research. 2020; 22: e23021
- The false positive problem of automatic bot detection in social science research.PLoS One. 2020; 15e0241045
Simone, M. (2019). Bots started sabotaging my online research. I fought back. STAT news. Retrieved from https://www.statnews.com/2019/11/21/bots-started-sabotaging-my-online-research-i-fought-back.
Biography
Patricia R. Lawrence, Clinical Assistant Professor & Director of Project Healthy Grandparents, Byrdine F. Lewis College of Nursing and Health Professions, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA.
Biography
Melissa C. Osborne, PhD, MPH, Assistant Professor, Wellstar School of Nursing, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA.
Biography
Dhruvangi Sharma, Nursing Service Coordinator, Project Healthy Grandparents, Byrdine F. Lewis College of Nursing and Health Professions, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA
Biography
Regena Spratling, Professor, Byrdine F. Lewis College of Nursing and Health Professions, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA.
Biography
Christina J. Calamaro, Director of Nursing & Allied Health Research and Evidenced Based Practice, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Associate Professor, Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Article info
Publication history
Published online: January 28, 2023
Publication stage
In Press Corrected ProofFootnotes
Conflicts of interest: None to report.
Identification
Copyright
Copyright © 2023 Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners.
