Mendelson, Cindy. "Recruiting participants for research from online communities." CIN: Computers, informatics, nursing 25.6 (2007): 317-323.

The study examines the utilization of online communities for recruiting participants for research on women living with lupus, highlighting both the challenges and strategies inherent in this method. Key aspects discussed include the recruitment process through website postings, the influence of community gatekeepers, the dynamics between active participants (posters) and passive observers (lurkers), and concerns regarding the authenticity of participants. The paper also offers solutions to overcome these challenges, showcasing the potential and pitfalls of leveraging Internet communities for research recruitment.