Is this real data? How to detect data fabrication in Qualtrics questionnaires
Qualtrics is one of the most used data collection platforms. Due to relatively easy-to-use point-and-click functionalities Qualtrics is used by both researchers and students. Some of these functionalities allow the owner of a Qualtrics survey project to modify previously collected answers and thus engage in actions that raise suspicions of data fabrication or falsification – two of “the clearest examples of research misconduct” (Netherlands Code of Conduct for Research Integrity, 2018, Chapter 5, section 5.2.A.1). Another way to fabricate data in Qualtrics studies is by taking the survey multiple times while claiming to be a different respondent. In this workshop, I will show how to check for signs of (1) changes of previously collected answers, and (2) repeated entries from a single respondent. This has implications for the design and implementation of open data policies, and for procedures that verify compliance with these policies.