The aim of this paper is to advance rigorous Internet-based HIV/STD Prevention quantitative research by providing guidance
to fellow researchers, faculty supervising graduates, human subjects’ committees, and review groups about some of the most
common and challenging questions about Internet-based HIV prevention quantitative research. The authors represent several
research groups who have gained experience conducting some of the first Internet-based HIV/STD prevention quantitative surveys
in the US and elsewhere. Sixteen questions specific to Internet-based HIV prevention survey research are identified. To aid
rigorous development and review of applications, these questions are organized around six common criteria used in federal
review groups in the US: significance, innovation, approach (broken down further by research design, formative development,
procedures, sampling considerations, and data collection); investigator, environment and human subjects’ issues. Strategies
promoting minority participant recruitment, minimizing attrition, validating participants, and compensating participants are
discussed. Throughout, the implications on budget and realistic timetabling are identified.
Keywords HIV/STD prevention - Internet methodology