Deception by Research Participants

What is this about?

While many guidelines and regulations are in place prohibiting research misconduct by researchers, research participants can also fabricate or falsify their data or testimonies. A study by Devine et. al. conducted in 2013 researched whether research subjectes who had enrolled in multiple studies were prone to conceal or exaggerate personal information in order to qualify for inclusion criteria of a study.^[1] Three quarters of the research subjects were found to engage in some form of deception, such as having been enrolled in a previous study, concealing health symptoms or not reporting medication. One likely reason for participants' deception is the financial compensation for enrolling in a study.

↑ Devine, E. G., Waters, M. E., Putnam, M., Surprise, C., O’Malley, K., Richambault, C., ... & Streeter, C. (2013). Concealment and fabrication by experienced research subjects. Clinical Trials, 10(6), 935-948.

Why is this important?

Deception to enroll in clinical trials can be a risk "to both subject safetey and study integrity that researchers should actively minimize when methods of verifying self-reported health data exist". ^[1]

For whom is this important?

ResearchersPhD studentsSenior researchers

What are the best practices?

Resnik et al (2015) list four measures researchers can take to address deception by research subjects. ^[2]

Researchers can verify information by letting participants undergo physical exams and laboratory tests.
Research subjects can be excluded from the study when deception is uncovered.
Studies can consider rewarding research subjects when they provide accurate self-reported information.
Researchers can require subjects to be registered in a clinical trial particpant registry.

Other information

When

2013

Virtues & Values

Good Practices & Misconduct

Research Area

Clinical medicine

↑ Devine, E. G., Waters, M. E., Putnam, M., Surprise, C., O’Malley, K., Richambault, C., ... & Streeter, C. (2013). Concealment and fabrication by experienced research subjects. Clinical Trials, 10(6), 935-948.
↑ Resnik, David B., and David J. McCann. "Deception by research participants." New England Journal of Medicine 373.13 (2015): 1192-3.

[1] Devine, E. G., Waters, M. E., Putnam, M., Surprise, C., O’Malley, K., Richambault, C., ... & Streeter, C. (2013). Concealment and fabrication by experienced research subjects. Clinical Trials, 10(6), 935-948.

[2] Devine, E. G., Waters, M. E., Putnam, M., Surprise, C., O’Malley, K., Richambault, C., ... & Streeter, C. (2013). Concealment and fabrication by experienced research subjects. Clinical Trials, 10(6), 935-948.

[3] Resnik, David B., and David J. McCann. "Deception by research participants." New England Journal of Medicine 373.13 (2015): 1192-3.

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