In order to ensure the confidentiality of the data, the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) contracted an objective, third-party research company, Industry Insights, to collect and compile the results. Industry Insights, headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, is a professional research, data analytics and consulting firm providing management and marketing services to trade and professional associations and their members.   

An email with a link to an online questionnaire was sent to approximately 80,294 ACFE members in February 2022. A total of 5,040 completed and usable responses were received by the end of February in time for processing, representing a 6.3% response rate. Responses received after the deadline and questionnaires with incomplete information were not included. Based on 5,040 presumably random responses and 80,294 for the total population, this study has a +/- 1.3% margin of error (MOE) at a 95% level of confidence. (In other words, we can be 95% certain that for a question with 5,040 responses, the survey’s figure would be within +/- 1.3% percentage points of the actual universe’s response.) A margin of error of +/- 5% is typically accepted as the “standard” in association research, so this study’s +/- 1.3% figure indicates a stronger than typical level of statistical integrity.  

Upon receipt, all questionnaires were assigned a confidential identification number, and any remaining identification was removed from the survey form. All data were checked both manually and by specially designed computer editing procedure. Strict confidence of survey responses was maintained throughout the course of the project.