Credit: Penn State. Creative Commons
Clinical and Translational Science Institute
CTSI TSS Webinar: 'When the Respondents Aren't Who They Say They Are: Managing Survey Fraud'
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM / January 28, 2026
This session, titled, "When the Respondents Aren't Who They Say They Are: Managing Survey Fraud," will be presented by Brian Sonak, project manager at the Survey Research Center, and Laura Felix, research project manager.
Online surveys are powerful and efficient research tools, but in an era of bots, algorithms, and coordinated fraud, they are increasingly vulnerable to invalid responses. This translational science seminar will introduce common forms of online survey fraud and practical strategies for detecting and minimizing their impact in research studies. Participants will also engage in a facilitated discussion about their own experiences with survey fraud and the approaches they have used to address it. Attendees will leave with practical strategies for protecting data quality in their own survey research projects.
The Translational Science Seminar (TSS) Series is held monthly. Each month, a panel of speakers will present practical information related to clinical and translational topics, with the goal to expose participants to contemporary issues and tools that can accelerate the translation of research to benefit human health.