[1] In the medical field, it pertains to the practice of gathering medical, biomedical or health related research data via the internet directly from research subjects.
The subject, uses a web browser to view and respond to questionnaires that are included in an approved medical research protocol.
[1] There is also the case of secondary Internet research, which involves the use of the Internet in the location of secondary information sources such as journal databases, newspapers, and digital archives, among others.
[3] In a traditional medical research study, the principal investigator, Research Coordinator, or other study staff conducts an interview with the research subject and records the information on a paper or electronic case report form.
Using IMR, the research subject instead responds to a questionnaire without the guidance of a research staff member, often performing the action at a time and place disassociated with the research clinic, using only a computer connected to the internet and a standard browser.