Feb. 17, 2025
The SRC recently updated its guidance to Princeton researchers on using Internet panels for their research. Online panels have become a popular and cost-effective alternative to traditional survey methods, but they come with challenges related to representativeness, response quality, and fraudulent participation. Our updated memo argues that while opt-in panels are useful for experiments and general research, recruited panels based on probability sampling remain the gold standard for obtaining academically respected, high-quality survey data.