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Symposium

Health Sciences

Researchers Beware: Cautionary Tales of Fraudulent Research Participants and What to Do About Them

Friday, November 10, 2023
12:00 PM – 1:30 PM ET
Location: Room 305

This symposium presents a series of cases where gerontological researchers identified fraudulent participants and bots engaging in their studies. These presentations describe the complex nature of participants misrepresenting themselves and being creative to enroll in studies for financial incentives. Dr. Sefcik shares how a snowball sample led to participants enrolling in a study and misrepresenting themselves during virtual qualitative interviews. Dr. Boon illuminates how Facebook recruitment led to bot responses and steps taken to identify if participants were real. Dr. Frechman reveals how recruitment on social media platforms and email distribution lists led to bot attacks of the study survey. Dr. Carpenter explains a study involving a multi-methods approach in which a bot completed several surveys and an interviewee gave nonsensical responses. Dr. Wallace explains two types of fraudulent activity occurring, the first with bots completing an online survey and the second with deception during interviews. All presenters discuss their experiences of suspecting fraudulent research participation, approaches on how they verified participants, action steps to address misrepresentation, processes put in place to uphold the integrity of their studies, and tips to mitigate future fraud.

This is a Nursing Care of Older Adults Interest Group Sponsored Symposium.

Learning Objectives:

  • After attending this session, participants will be able to explain ways that fraudulent research participants are gaining access to studies.
  • After attending this session, participants will be able to discuss approaches that can be taken to mitigate fraudulent research participants from enrolling in their studies.

Presentations:

  • 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM ET
    When Snowball Sampling Leads to an Avalanche of Fraudulent Participants

    Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Justine S. Sefcik, PhD, RN (she/her/hers) – Drexel University College of Nursing and Health Professions

  • 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM ET
    Using Paradata and Manual Review to Detect Automated Online Research Survey Participation

    Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Jeffrey T. Boon, PhD, APRN, AGACNP-BC (he/him/his) – Vanderbilt University Medical Center

  • 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM ET
    Attacked by Bots and Hacked by Bad Apples: Lessons Learned Navigating Research Participant Fraud

    Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Erica Frechman, PhD, NP (she/her/hers) – Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist

  • 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM ET
    Incentives + Social Media Recruitment + Minimal Subject Interaction = Potential for Fraud!

    Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Joan Carpenter, PhD, CRNP, ACHPN, FPCN (she/her/hers) – University of Maryland School of Nursing

  • 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM ET
    Are You a REAL Participant? Experiences With Fraudulent Participation Across Two Funded Studies

    Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Cara L. Wallace, PhD, LMSW, APHSW-C (she/her/hers) – Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing, Saint Louis University