biostudies-literatureUnknown8Salminen J<h4>Background</h4>Constructing a sample of <i>real users</i> as participants in user studies is considered by most researchers to be vital for the validity, usefulness, and applicability of research findings. However, how often user studies reported in information technology academic literature sample <i>real users</i> or <i>surrogate users</i> is unknown. Therefore, it is uncertain whether or not the use of <i>surrogate users</i> in place of <i>real users</i> is a widespread problem within user study practice.<h4>Objective</h4>To determine how often user studies reported in peer-reviewed information technology literature sample <i>real users</i> or <i>surrogate users</i> as participants.<h4>Method</h4>We analyzed 725 user studies reported in 628 peer-reviewed articles published from 2013PeerJ. Computer sciencee1136https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9680893biostudies-literatureWho is in the sample? An analysis of real and surrogate users as participants in user study research in the information technology fields.PMC9680893Jung SGFroneman WJansen BJKamel ASalminen JfalseWho is in the sample? An analysis of real and surrogate users as participants in user study research in the information technology fields.<h4>Background</h4>Constructing a sample of <i>real users</i> as participants in user studies is considered by most researchers to be vital for the validity, usefulness, and applicability of research findings. However, how often user studies reported in information technology academic literature sample <i>real users</i> or <i>surrogate users</i> is unknown. Therefore, it is uncertain whether or not the use of <i>surrogate users</i> in place of <i>real users</i> is a widespread problem within user study practice.<h4>Objective</h4>To determine how often user studies reported in peer-reviewed information technology literature sample <i>real users</i> or <i>surrogate users</i> as participants.<h4>Method</h4>We analyzed 725 user studies reported in 628 peer-reviewed articles published from 20132022-01-01T00:00:00Z20222025-04-19T16:12:11.572Z2025-04-19T16:12:11.572ZS-EPMC96808933642626210.7717/peerj-cs.1136