We are proud to spotlight research led by one of our doctoral students, Emily Elenio, recently published under the title "Population Recruitment Strategies in the Age of Bots: Insights from the What's On Your Plate Study." This timely and highly relevant paper tackles a pressing challenge in digital health research today: how to safely and effectively conduct remote survey-based data collection in an age where bots and fraudulent responses can jeopardize data integrity.
The What’s On Your Plate study—a multi-state, longitudinal evaluation of a SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) incentive program—recruited over 1,300 participants across Rhode Island and Connecticut using a primarily online survey infrastructure.
To overcome significant recruitment and data security challenges, including a targeted bot attack, the study team implemented a suite of advanced technological solutions. These included automated integrations such as application programming interface (APIs), metadata monitoring, RCAPTCHA protocols, geotag analysis, and personalized follow-up with participants to ensure data validity. The team worked closely with computer scientists and utilized secure platforms like Qualtrics and AWS to protect participant data and preserve research quality. These innovations allowed the team to maintain a participant-first approach while also defending against fraudulent responses—ultimately saving thousands in potential losses.
The study’s findings not only demonstrate the feasibility and benefits of remote recruitment for reaching under resourced populations but also establish best practices for bot mitigation and digital survey design in public health. Importantly, the research emphasizes the need for future public health professionals to collaborate across disciplines—especially with experts in computer science and data security. This work sets a new standard for online data collection in our field and offers valuable insights for researchers navigating the evolving digital landscape.
To learn more about the study contact emily_elenio@brown.edu or or access the full article.