Inauthentic participants in online research activities – a systematic review

Plain English Summary Increasing amounts of health and social care research, including Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) activities, are being carried out online. Online research can make participation easier and more accessible, but researchers are increasingly concerned about people taking part who are not who they claim to be. This may include people misrepresenting their identity or experiences, taking part in studies that they are not eligible for, participating multiple times using different identities or using automated tools (such as bots) to engage in research activities. The aim of this review is to understand how common inauthentic participation is in online research, the situations in which it occurs and how to detect, prevent, or reduce the impact of inauthentic participation. To do this, we will search published and unpublished literature from health, social care, and PPIE settings. Two reviewers will independently assess the evidence and extract information about the types of inauthentic participation reported, how it was identified, its impact on research, and strategies used to address it. We will also talk to researchers with experience of inauthentic participation in online research to help interpret the findings and ensure that any recommendations are practical and relevant. The findings will be used to inform guidance for researchers and funders and will be shared through reports, publications, and publicly accessible materials.