Exploring guidance on non-genuine participants in online research
Exploring guidance on non-genuine participants in online research
15 October 2025, 10:00-11:00 BST
On 15 October, UKRIO will host an Expert Webinar with guest speakers from the University of Nottingham, who will introduce their new guidance on non-genuine participants in online research.
Developed with input from UKRIO, this guidance addresses key threats to research integrity in online studies – including misrepresentation of eligibility, multiple or repeated participation, disengaged or careless responses, and automated ‘bot’ activity. The guidance raises awareness of these risks and offers practical strategies to help researchers protect the quality and reliability of their data.
In this webinar, the project team will outline the guidance, explain how it was developed, and demonstrate how researchers can use it to support good practice.
ℹ️ Key details
Format: Online webinar, hosted via Zoom
Access: Free and open to all
Best suited for:
- Research contributors designing and conducting online studies
- Research Ethics Committees reviewing online study protocols
- Funders, institutions, and policy-makers concerned with research quality and accountability
- Research participants and PPI groups who may contribute to shaping acceptable approaches
Speakers
Dr Blandine French
Dr Blandine French is a lived-experience senior research fellow at the University of Nottingham, specialising in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Her research focuses on increasing awareness of ADHD in primary care, developing training for GPs to improve identification and access to care, and leading projects such as Recount, which examines the personal, societal and economic costs of undiagnosed ADHD and autism. Blandine also founded the Nottingham Neurodiversity Network and has facilitated peer support groups for over a decade, working closely with parents, children and young people with neurodevelopmental conditions.
Ali Alshukry
Ali Alshukry is Head of Research Integrity, Governance and Compliance at the University of Nottingham.
With over 20 years’ experience across academia, NHS Trusts, and national research bodies, he leads institutional efforts to embed responsible research practices, oversees research misconduct investigations, and represents the university as Sponsor for clinical trials and health and social care research. Ali is also a member of the Trusted Research team, supporting secure international collaboration and alignment with national standards.
About the guidance
Background
Online research has become an essential tool across disciplines, valued for its ability to reach large and specific participant groups, reduce costs, and enable anonymity. Yet these same advantages also create vulnerabilities, leaving studies open to misrepresentation of eligibility, multiple or repeated participation, disengaged or careless responses, and automated “bot” activity.
Such behaviours may stem from misunderstandings, financial incentives, or deliberate attempts to influence outcomes. Whatever the cause, the impact can be serious: compromised data quality, reduced reliability of findings, wasted resources, and additional ethical and administrative burdens on research teams.
Addressing these risks requires careful planning, early intervention, and ongoing vigilance, with strategies tailored to different study contexts and participant populations. Protections must also be proportionate so as not to disadvantage or deter genuine participants.
Despite growing awareness of fraudulent participation, consolidated practical guidance for researchers and ethics committees remains limited. Rising reports of these challenges underscore the need for structured approaches to safeguard data integrity and ensure trustworthy results.
Purpose and Scope
The primary aim of this guidance is to raise awareness of the risks posed by non-genuine participation in online research and to provide practical strategies for researchers to safeguard the integrity of their data.
Specifically, the guidance aims to:
- Raise awareness of non-genuine participation in online research projects.
- Safeguard researchers, participants, and research integrity
- Assist researchers in planning resources and including considerations in grant applications.
- Inform research ethics committee reviews.
- Promote professional and responsible conduct in addressing non-genuine participation.
Scope:
The guidance focuses on online research but may also be applicable to adjacent activities such as patient and public involvement (PPI) or consultancy. Adaptation may be needed for these contexts.
This guidance does not:
- Seek to explain participant motivations for non-genuine behaviour
- Provide a single prescriptive framework suitable for all studies
Intended Outcomes
- For researchers to anticipate and plan for risks of non-genuine participation from the earliest stages of research (grant applications, protocols, ethics submissions), monitor and document data quality, report transparently, and adopt proportionate verification strategies.
- For research ethics committees to evaluate proposed countermeasures carefully, balancing integrity and participant burden, and support researchers in implementing proportionate safeguards.
- For funders and institutions to recognise the resource implications of addressing non-genuine participation and encourage transparent reporting of challenges and responses.
- For participants and PPI groups to engage in dialogue with researchers to co-design acceptable, fair verification and recruitment procedures.
Acknowledgements
This work was developed by a University of Nottingham working group in collaboration with UKRIO. It draws on published literature, institutional experiences, and existing frameworks from other organisations (e.g., King’s College London, University of Manchester). It aligns with ongoing sector-wide conversations about data integrity in online research.
Need Support?
Please direct any questions about this event to events@ukrio.org