Ethical Considerations for Stalking Research: Mitigating "Imposter Participant" Risk During Social Media Recruitment


Olivia Peters, University of Guelph

Digital technologies can greatly facilitate recruitment and participation in qualitative research. However, little is known about the experiences of qualitative researchers when faced with “imposter participants”. This presentation discusses ethical considerations of using social media recruitment for intimate partner stalking research, engaging in reflection on dedicated attempts from an international scam organization. I assert that, 1. the current state of and reliance on digital technology in scholarship necessitates that researchers account for the dynamic risks associated with online recruitment, 2. risks must be acknowledged and supported by institutional infrastructures, including research ethics boards and information technology departments, so that researchers are supported when faced with imposter participants, and 3. without support, researchers and their work are vulnerable to scams and falsified data. This presentation provides suggestions for identifying and mitigating risks during social media recruitment as well as managing modifications during data collection. The intent of this presentation is to facilitate discussion on future considerations for social media recruitment.

This paper will be presented at the following session: