This study appeared in full in the previous issue of Research Ethics Review (2008; 4 (3): 120). RB works in the field of substance abuse where his main expertise focuses on illicit drugs. He plans to investigate, in as many countries as possible, the extent to which dealers dilute or ‘cut’ drugs, in order to increase profit margins. His methodology is entirely internet based. An advertisement, placed on a number of internet forums, will include a link to a separate web page containing an anonymous questionnaire that can be filled in on-line. On completion responses will be transferred, automatically, to a programme on a secure server which will then analyse the data and send it on to RB.
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