Fraudulent Participation in Online Qualitative Studies: Practical Recommendations on an Emerging Phenomenon

Khaylen Mistry, Sophie Merrick, Melissa Cabecinha, Susanna Daniels, John Ragan, Miran Epstein, Louisa Lever, Zoe C. Venables, Nick J. Levell, Department of Dermatology, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals Foundation Trust, Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, MRC Clinical Trials Unit at UCL, Institute of Clinical Trials and Methodology, Research Department of Primary Care and Population Health, Institute of Epidemiology and Healthcare, Melanoma Focus, Patient and Public Representative, Queen Mary University of London, Legal Services, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals Foundation Trust

Qualitative Health Research

Published online on November 16, 2024

Abstract

Qualitative Health Research, Volume 36, Issue 7, Page 647-657, June 2026.
Fraudulent participation is defined in the following as participation in research by individuals who, for one reason or another, intentionally provide false responses. Qualitative studies are at an increased risk of fraudulent participation when online ...