Addressing fraudulent responses in quantitative and qualitative internet research: Case studies from body image and appearance research

Schneider, Kat; Ahuja, Latika; Dietch, Jessica R.; Folan, Anne-Mairead; Coleman, Jillian; Bogart, Kathleen

Abstract

The rise of online research methods has expanded the scope of research globally and has made research more inclusive. However, it has also led to a surge in fraudulent research participation, with individuals and bots infiltrating studies for personal gain or disruption. This is of particular concern in mental health studies, as fraudulent responses jeopardize interventions and care efforts. This paper addresses these challenges, presenting case studies from psychological research. The urgent need for a comprehensive understanding of fraudulent responses in both quantitative and qualitative online research is emphasized, urging the research community to confront and mitigate this issue effectively.

• Journal Article Type: Commentary
• Acceptance Date: Sep 27, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Oct 3, 2024
• Deposit Date: Oct 3, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 4, 2025
• Print ISSN: 1050-8422
• Electronic ISSN: 1532-7019
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis (Routledge)
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10508422.2024.2411400
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/13264008