title: Using the Internet to prescreen participants for research on interpersonal violence: experimental design considerations.
abstract: Internet-based testing has become increasingly popular in recent years due largely to the availability of computers and the Web to research participants. For researchers studying interpersonal violence, Internet-based methodologies can also be used as a prescreening device to identify a population of interest, such as individuals reporting violence in their relationships. However, several challenges exist with this approach. This article evaluates the use of an Internet-based prescreening device to identify potential participants for a study on interpersonal violence, highlighting challenges encountered with this methodology, and offers suggestions for improvement in experimental design when conducting Internet-based screenings of interpersonal violence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Grand Valley State University, Allendale, MI 49401, USA. cornelta@gvsu.edu
authors.forename: Tara L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Cornelius
authors.forename: Natalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Truba
authors.forename: Kathryn M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Bell
mesh_terms: D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction / Q000379:methods*; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000458:organization & administration*; D018579:Patient Selection; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012107:Research Design; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult