Online Survey Researchers’ Experience With Fraudulent Responders

Due to the rise of fraudulent responders, either human or automated bots, researchers must carefully monitor online survey data quality. The literature on preventing and detecting fraudulent responders is growing, but the prevalence and experience of researchers experiencing fraudulent responders remains unknown. Through an online survey of researchers who have published studies using online surveys, this study explores researchers’ ( N = 675) knowledge and experience with fraudulent responders. Over a third of the participants (37.33%) reported experiencing fraudulent responders that affected their online survey research; however, this number could be higher, as 19.26% of the participants did not know or check for fraudulent responses. Participants who experienced fraudulent responders (EFR) reported statistically more confidence, compared to those who had not experienced fraudulent responders (NEFR), that they could remove ( M (EFR) = 2.42; M (NEFR) = 3.17; t (583.10) = 8.36, p < .001) and prevent ( M (EFR) = 2.93; M (NEFR) = 3.27; t (541.34) = 3.57, p < .001) fraudulent responders from infiltrating their online surveys. Most participants (59.76%) did not realize their study had been affected by fraudulent responders until the data cleaning phase. This study raises awareness about the risks of fraudulent responders, which not only negatively affect data quality and compromise scientific integrity but can also hinder researchers’ productivity and potentially harm their careers.