Detecting and Preventing Imposter Participants
Methods and Recommendations for Qualitative Researchers
Bibliographic Data
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many qualitative researchers were forced to alter their data collection methods as traditional face-to-face interviews and focus groups were prohibited by social distancing requirements. While the shift to remote and digital platforms has undoubtedly provided numerous benefits, such as more flexibility and reach, it has also introduced new challenges, particularly the risk of imposter participants, or dishonest or false participants who fabricate their identities or exaggerate their experiences to join a study. Through reflection on two case studies, we identified several red flags, which we categorized according to phases of the research process-recruitment and data collection. Based on the red flags, we provide methods and recommendations for detecting and preventing imposter participants from impacting the validity and trustworthiness of qualitative research. Researchers must routinely implement these recommendations for qualitative research as technology becomes a more attractive avenue for recruiting potential participants, particularly participants belonging to populations often described as "hard to reach." However, these problems are structural and require institutional attention. We, therefore, pose recommendations for academia, institutional review boards, publishers, and reviewers of qualitative research
Data collection · Distancing · FLAGS register · Focus group · Internet privacy · Medical education · Qualitative property · Qualitative research · Sociology · Trustworthiness · Applied Psychology · Computer Science · Digital Mental Health Interventions · Focus Groups and Qualitative Methods · Impact of Technology on Adolescents · Medicine · Psychology · Social Psychology
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Moving Beyond Red Flags for Imposter Participants
Qualitative Research
Lie for a Dime
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Dematerialized participation challenges
Fraudulent Participation in Online Qualitative Studies
Suspicious and fraudulent online survey participation
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Conducting Qualitative Research to Respond to Covid-19 Challenges
Methods in the Time of Covid-19
Who can you trust these days
| Unique citing works | 9 |
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| Citations per year | 9 |
| Citation span | 2025 - 2026 (2) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 7 |