Citation

Hines DA, Douglas EM, Mahmood S. Comput. Hum. Behav. 2010; 26(6): 1327-1335.

Affiliation

Clark University.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.chb.2010.04.006

PMID

20948972

PMCID

PMC2952634

Abstract

Research using Internet surveys is an emerging field, yet research on the legitimacy of using Internet studies, particularly those targeting sensitive topics, remains under-investigated. The current study builds on the existing literature by exploring the demographic differences between Internet panel and RDD telephone survey samples, as well as differences in responses with regard to experiences of intimate partner violence perpetration and victimization, alcohol and substance use/abuse, PTSD symptomatology, and social support. Analyses indicated that after controlling for demographic differences, there were few differences between the samples in their disclosure of sensitive information, and that the online sample was more socially isolated than the phone sample. Results are discussed in terms of their implications for using Internet samples in research on sensitive topics.

Language: en