Fraud in online surveys is a growing challenge for market researchers. From AI-powered bots to dishonest respondents, fraudulent activities compromise the accuracy of insights and jeopardize decision-making. 

To tackle these challenges, the Angus Reid Group leverages its exclusive certified panel and employs Survey Sentinel, an advanced algorithmic system specifically designed to identify and eliminate AI-generated or fraudulent survey responses. 

This innovative tool ensures the quality and integrity of market research data, empowering businesses with reliable insights that can be trusted. 

The Growing Problem of Survey Fraud 

Survey fraud, particularly from bots, creates skewed results that misinform rather than enlighten. These automated programs mimic human behavior, infiltrating surveys with invalid responses that: 

• Distort key findings. 

• Waste research budgets. 

• Undermine confidence in data. 

How Survey Sentinel Works 

Real-Time In-Survey Checks 

Survey Sentinel employs a suite of in-survey checks that instantly identify and terminate fraudulent participants, protecting the validity of results. These checks include: 

• Metadata Analysis: Evaluates IP addresses, locations, and email domains for inconsistencies. 

• ReCAPTCHAs: Prevents automated bots from completing surveys. 

• Proprietary Verification Algorithms: Identifies and disqualifies suspicious behavior during the survey. 

Offline Fraud Detection 

Survey Sentinel also conducts offline analyses after survey completion to catch fraudulent respondents missed during the live session. These include: 

• Trap Questions: Designed to detect inattentive or dishonest participants. 

• Logic Checks: Flags responses with inconsistencies or illogical patterns. 

• Pattern Detection Algorithms: Identifies straight-lining and other suspicious response behaviors. 

NLP-Powered Open-Ended Analysis 

Using Natural Language Processing (NLP), Survey Sentinel evaluates open-ended responses for: 

• Gibberish or random text (e.g., “asdf” or “qwerty”). 

• Copied and pasted content. 

• Irrelevant or nonsensical answers. 

These advanced checks ensure that only genuine, thoughtful responses contribute to the final dataset. 

Continuous Monitoring and Purging 

Flagged participants are reviewed by the Angus Reid Group’s panel and community team. Actions taken include: 

• Immediate Removal: Known bots and egregious offenders are purged from the panel. 

• Ongoing Monitoring: Minor offenders are tracked and removed if their behavior continues. 

This proactive approach enhances panel quality and maintains the integrity of the data collected. 

Why Survey Sentinel Matters 

Survey Sentinel’s customizable design ensures accuracy in distinguishing between valid and fraudulent responses. By eliminating bad data at every stage, businesses can trust the insights that guide their decisions. 

Key benefits include: 

• Improved Data Accuracy: Ensures findings are based on genuine participant responses. 

• Cost Efficiency: Reduces resources wasted on processing fraudulent data. 

• Enhanced Credibility: Protects the reputation and value of insights and data across the enterprise. 

A Tireless Guardian of Data Integrity 

Survey Sentinel is a cutting-edge tool in the fight against survey fraud. It serves as a tireless guardian of market research quality, ensuring trustworthy insights for informed decision-making. 

With Survey Sentinel, Angus Reid Group sets a new standard for reliable, fraud-free data in market research. 

Do you have more questions about Survey Sentinel and our ability to detect fraud and delivers insights and data you can trust?  

 Check out our FAQ on Survey Sentinel