Internet method in bereavement research: comparison of online and offline surveys

Abstract

This study examines the reliability and validity of Internet research in bereavement. Recent literature demonstrates an increased interest in utilizing a more convenient, inexpensive, and rapid Internet method to collect data and recruit bereaved participants. For researchers, the Internet offers the possibility to learn more about grief from the growing online community of bereaved people. To explore the possible use of Internet tools in bereavement research, this study compares online survey method with traditional paper-and-pencil method in grief assessment. One group of bereaved adults (N = 84) was recruited and completed the survey by mail, and another group of bereaved adults (N = 262) was recruited and completed the same set of questions via Internet. The collected data were analyzed to identify both similarities and differences between the two samples' responses and the psychometric characteristics of the Core Bereavement Items inventory (CBI; Burnett, Middleton, Raphael, & Martinek, 1997). Significant differences were found between the two samples in relation to time since loss, cause of death, and relationship to deceased, demonstrating a greater variability in the Internet sample. Other demographic characteristics, as well as the grief and meaning making scores, did not differ significantly. In addition, no relevant differences were found in the psychometric properties of the CBI. These findings suggest that the Internet-based methods can be a suitable and valid alternative to more traditional paper-and-pencil methods.