Eysenbach Gunther, Wyatt Jeremy
J Med Internet Res. 2002 Apr-Nov;4(2):E13. doi: 10.2196/jmir.4.2.e13.
This paper concerns the use of the Internet in the research process, from identifying research issues through qualitative research, through using the Web for surveys and clinical trials, to pre-publishing and publishing research results. Material published on the Internet may be a valuable resource for researchers desiring to understand people and the social and cultural contexts within which they live outside of experimental settings, with due emphasis on the interpretations, experiences, and views of 'real world' people. Reviews of information posted by consumers on the Internet may help to identify health beliefs, common topics, motives, information, and emotional needs of patients, and point to areas where research is needed. The Internet can further be used for survey research. Internet-based surveys may be conducted by means of interactive interviews or by questionnaires designed for self-completion. Electronic one-to-one interviews can be conducted via e-mail or using chat rooms. Questionnaires can be administered by e-mail (e.g. using mailing lists), by posting to newsgroups, and on the Web using fill-in forms. In "open" web-based surveys, selection bias occurs due to the non-representative nature of the Internet population, and (more importantly) through self-selection of participants, i.e. the non-representative nature of respondents, also called the 'volunteer effect'. A synopsis of important techniques and tips for implementing Web-based surveys is given. Ethical issues involved in any type of online research are discussed. Internet addresses for finding methods and protocols are provided. The Web is also being used to assist in the identification and conduction of clinical trials. For example, the web can be used by researchers doing a systematic review who are looking for unpublished trials. Finally, the web is used for two distinct types of electronic publication. Type 1 publication is unrefereed publication of protocols or work in progress (a 'post-publication' peer review process may take place), whereas Type 2 publication is peer-reviewed and will ordinarily take place in online journals.
本文关注互联网在研究过程中的应用，从通过定性研究确定研究问题，到利用网络进行调查和临床试验，再到研究成果的预发表和发表。互联网上发布的材料对于希望了解人们以及他们在实验环境之外生活的社会和文化背景的研究人员来说，可能是一种宝贵的资源，同时要充分重视“现实世界”中人们的解读、经历和观点。对消费者在互联网上发布的信息进行综述，可能有助于识别患者的健康观念、常见话题、动机、信息和情感需求，并指出需要进行研究的领域。互联网还可用于调查研究。基于互联网的调查可以通过交互式访谈或设计用于自我完成的问卷来进行。电子一对一访谈可以通过电子邮件或使用聊天室进行。问卷可以通过电子邮件（例如使用邮件列表）、发布到新闻组以及在网络上使用填写表格的方式进行管理。在“开放式”基于网络的调查中，由于互联网人群的非代表性以及（更重要的是）参与者的自我选择，即受访者的非代表性，也称为“志愿者效应”，会出现选择偏差。文中给出了实施基于网络调查的重要技术和技巧概述。讨论了任何类型在线研究中涉及的伦理问题。提供了查找方法和方案的互联网地址。网络也被用于协助识别和开展临床试验。例如，进行系统综述的研究人员可以利用网络查找未发表的试验。最后，网络用于两种不同类型的电子出版物。类型1出版物是未经评审的协议或正在进行的工作的发表（可能会进行“发表后”同行评审过程），而类型2出版物是经过同行评审的，通常会在在线期刊上发表。
