Methodological rigor and ethical considerations in Internet-mediated research.

University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, and University of Minnesota Medical School This article reviews the methodological and ethical challenges of undertaking research using the Internet. The authors review methodological issues that may compromise the internal and external validity of Internet research, such as representativeness of samples, sample bias, and respondent bias. In addition to reviewing fundamental ethical problems associated with Internet research, the authors review new constraints imposed by Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act legislation. They provide an overview of minimal safeguards needed to maintain the confidentiality of Internet-mediated research.