Protecting Research from Fraudulent Responses

What this episode covers

In this episode, hosts Trenton Honda, PhD, MMS, PA-C, editor-in-chief of the Journal of PA Education, and Carey Barry, MHS, PA-C, chair and associate clinical professor at Northeastern University, sit down with Aaron Henry, PhD(c), MSHS, PA-C, co-director of clinical education and assistant professor at the George Washington University Physician Assistant Program, to discuss his JPAE article, “Web-Based Survey Fraud: Pitfalls and Pearls.” Aaron shares how a mixed-methods dissertation study on healthcare provider trust among self-identified Black men in the Washington, DC area was disrupted by a flood of suspicious survey responses after recruitment materials were shared on social media. What initially appeared to be strong participation quickly raised concerns about bots, fraudulent respondents, and the risks that online incentives can create for researchers. The conversation explores the warning signs of survey fraud, the methods Aaron used to identify and exclude questionable responses, and the steps he took to verify participants before issuing compensation. He also discusses the decision to return to in-person recruitment through trusted community spaces such as barbershops and churches, along with lessons learned about protecting data integrity, documenting fraud mitigation strategies, and designing more resilient research studies in an increasingly digital environment.   This episode is sponsored by Lincoln Memorial University School of Medical Sciences. For more information about the doctor of medical science program, visit www.lmunet.edu/pa. For more information on the medical education major curriculum, visit https://www.lmunet.edu/school-of-medical-sciences/dms/medical-education-major-curriculum.   Show notesJPAE article: Web-Based Survey Fraud: Pitfalls and Pearls The PA Path Podcast is produced by Association Briefings.

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