Frequency of concealment, fabrication and falsification of study data by deceptive subjects

Abstract

Purpose Many studies have found evidence that research subjects engage in deceptive practices while participating in health-related studies. Little is known, however, about how often subjects use deception and the percentage of studies a typical subject will contaminate with false data. This study examined the frequency of use of different types of deception among a sample of subjects who admit to using deception. Methods A sample of 59 subjects who had participated in at least two health-related studies in the past 12 months and admitted to using deception in at least one were interviewed. Subjects were asked a series of questions about concealing information and fabricating information to gain entry into studies. Subjects were also asked about falsifying data after being enrolled in a health-related study. All study data reported pertains to only subjects who reported using deception in health-related studies and is based on subjects’ study participation only within the last 12 months from the date of the interview. Results Subjects who conceal information in order to enroll in trials reported using concealment in about two thirds (67%) of the trials they participated in over the past 12 months. On average, these subjects’ use of concealment was highest for mental health information (58% of studies) and physical health information (57% of studies). The average frequency of fabricating information in order to enroll in trials was 53% with exaggerating health symptoms (45% of studies) and pretending to have a health condition (39% of studies) as the two most widely used strategies. Subjects who falsify study data after enrollment reported doing so 40% of the time. These subjects falsely reported improvement in the health condition being studied in 38% of the trials they took part in. Subjects who admitted to throwing away study medication to create the appearance of compliance reported doing so 32% of the time. Limitations Although this study provides evidence that subjects who admit to using deception contaminate a high percentage of studies, larger and more geographically diverse samples are needed to understand the full extent of the problem of deceptive subjects in research. Regional economic, cultural, or organizational factors may be related to the rate of subjects using deception. It is also possible that this sample underrepresents the use of deception as there are likely subjects who use deception that would be unwilling to admit the extent of this behavior. Conclusion Deceptive subject's behavior poses a threat to the integrity of research findings. Given that deceptive subjects contaminate a high percentage of studies they take part in by concealing information, fabricating information, and falsifying study data after enrollment, efforts to identify and exclude thes...

What’s Right and Wrong in Preclinical Science: A Matter of Principled Investigation

“…At best, the high value of significant findings gives luck an outsized role in determining a scientist’s success—a career that may require 10 or more years of post-baccalaureate training, during which time it is typical to earn limited wages. At worst, it encourages scientific fraud ( Fanelli, 2009 ; Devine et al, 2021 ). In any case, the Holy Grail of statistical significance serves as a linchpin for common missteps in preclinical research that will be discussed below—because, yes, we are rewarded for making such missteps and punished when we don’t.…”

When snowball sampling leads to an avalanche of fraudulent participants in qualitative research

“…Research deception involves participants gainfully accessing research studies for financial incentives by self-reporting their inclusion criteria for the study when they are in fact impostors. Researchers have found that some participants changed their self-reported sexual orientation, biological sex, birthdate, as well as concealed or pretended to have a health condition to be eligible for surveys or clinical trial studies (Chandler & Paolacci, 2017;Devine et al, 2021;Glazer et al, 2021). Some of these potentially fraudulent participants have been identified through comparison of responses to previous surveys as well as identifying participants who exited a survey and reattempted to complete it with different information that met eligibility criteria (Chandler & Paolacci, 2017;Glazer et al, 2021).…”

“…Additionally, one research team with Institutional Review Board approval used an Internet service to confirm participants' identity and found that 7% of applicants were deemed fraudulent and two people even supplied information from deceased individuals (Glazer et al, 2021). Another research team has been recruiting subjects who use deception and found that they openly admit to concealment, fabrication and falsification of information to enter studies (Devine et al, 2013(Devine et al, , 2021.…”

“…Research deception involves participants gainfully accessing research studies for financial incentives by self‐reporting their inclusion criteria for the study when they are in fact impostors. Researchers have found that some participants changed their self‐reported sexual orientation, biological sex, birthdate, as well as concealed or pretended to have a health condition to be eligible for surveys or clinical trial studies (Chandler & Paolacci, 2017; Devine et al, 2021; Glazer et al, 2021).…”