TY - JOUR
T1 - Selecting an Ecological Momentary Assessment Platform
T2 - Tutorial for Researchers
AU - Henry, Lauren M.
AU - Hansen, Eleanor
AU - Chimoff, Justin
AU - Pokstis, Kimberly
AU - Kiderman, Miryam
AU - Naim, Reut
AU - Kossowsky, Joe
AU - Byrne, Meghan E.
AU - Lopez-Guzman, Silvia
AU - Kircanski, Katharina
AU - Pine, Daniel S.
AU - Brotman, Melissa A.
N1 - Publisher Copyright: ©Lauren M Henry, Eleanor Hansen, Justin Chimoff, Kimberly Pokstis, Miryam Kiderman, Reut Naim, Joe Kossowsky, Meghan E Byrne, Silvia Lopez-Guzman, Katharina Kircanski, Daniel S Pine, Melissa A Brotman. Originally published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research (https://www.jmir.org), 04.01.2024.
PY - 2024/1
Y1 - 2024/1
N2 - Background: Although ecological momentary assessment (EMA) has been applied in psychological research for decades, delivery methods have evolved with the proliferation of digital technology. Technological advances have engendered opportunities for enhanced accessibility, convenience, measurement precision, and integration with wearable sensors. Notwithstanding, researchers must navigate novel complexities in EMA research design and implementation. Objective: In this paper, we aimed to provide guidance on platform selection for clinical scientists launching EMA studies. Methods: Our team includes diverse specialties in child and adolescent behavioral and mental health with varying expertise on EMA platforms (eg, users and developers). We (2 research sites) evaluated EMA platforms with the goal of identifying the platform or platforms with the best fit for our research. We created a list of extant EMA platforms; conducted a web-based review; considered institutional security, privacy, and data management requirements; met with developers; and evaluated each of the candidate EMA platforms for 1 week. Results: We selected 2 different EMA platforms, rather than a single platform, for use at our 2 research sites. Our results underscore the importance of platform selection driven by individualized and prioritized laboratory needs; there is no single, ideal platform for EMA researchers. In addition, our project generated 11 considerations for researchers in selecting an EMA platform: (1) location; (2) developer involvement; (3) sample characteristics; (4) onboarding; (5) survey design features; (6) sampling scheme and scheduling; (7) viewing results; (8) dashboards; (9) security, privacy, and data management; (10) pricing and cost structure; and (11) future directions. Furthermore, our project yielded a suggested timeline for the EMA platform selection process. Conclusions: This study will guide scientists initiating studies using EMA, an in vivo, real-time research tool with tremendous promise for facilitating advances in psychological assessment and intervention.
AB - Background: Although ecological momentary assessment (EMA) has been applied in psychological research for decades, delivery methods have evolved with the proliferation of digital technology. Technological advances have engendered opportunities for enhanced accessibility, convenience, measurement precision, and integration with wearable sensors. Notwithstanding, researchers must navigate novel complexities in EMA research design and implementation. Objective: In this paper, we aimed to provide guidance on platform selection for clinical scientists launching EMA studies. Methods: Our team includes diverse specialties in child and adolescent behavioral and mental health with varying expertise on EMA platforms (eg, users and developers). We (2 research sites) evaluated EMA platforms with the goal of identifying the platform or platforms with the best fit for our research. We created a list of extant EMA platforms; conducted a web-based review; considered institutional security, privacy, and data management requirements; met with developers; and evaluated each of the candidate EMA platforms for 1 week. Results: We selected 2 different EMA platforms, rather than a single platform, for use at our 2 research sites. Our results underscore the importance of platform selection driven by individualized and prioritized laboratory needs; there is no single, ideal platform for EMA researchers. In addition, our project generated 11 considerations for researchers in selecting an EMA platform: (1) location; (2) developer involvement; (3) sample characteristics; (4) onboarding; (5) survey design features; (6) sampling scheme and scheduling; (7) viewing results; (8) dashboards; (9) security, privacy, and data management; (10) pricing and cost structure; and (11) future directions. Furthermore, our project yielded a suggested timeline for the EMA platform selection process. Conclusions: This study will guide scientists initiating studies using EMA, an in vivo, real-time research tool with tremendous promise for facilitating advances in psychological assessment and intervention.
KW - child and adolescent
KW - ecological momentary assessment
KW - in vivo
KW - methodology
KW - psychology and psychiatry
KW - real time
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85181632953&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - https://doi.org/10.2196/51125
DO - https://doi.org/10.2196/51125
M3 - مقالة
C2 - 38175682
SN - 1439-4456
VL - 26
JO - Journal of Medical Internet Research
JF - Journal of Medical Internet Research
IS - 1
M1 - e51125
ER -