Microinteraction Ecological Momentary Assessment

Lead PI

Co PIs

Abstract

Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) is an in-situ data collection methodology (for digital phenotyping), where the user’s smartphone beeps/prompts several times a day (often 6 – 10 times) with a set of multiple-choice questions related to the research construct of interest. EMA is used by researchers to measure behaviors such as mood, eating habits, and current physical activity to name a few. However, EMA often induces high study burden on the participants resulting in lower compliance/response rates. Low response rates affect the measurement of behavior, thereby affecting the quality of behavioral data.

We implemented μEMA (micro-EMA), or microinteractions-based ecological momentary assessment as an alternative approach to EMA. In μEMA, all the prompts are single questions with Yes/No kind of answers – responding to each of these questions is a single-tap quick glanceable “microinteraction” (like checking the time on a wristwatch), taking hardly ~ 2s. μEMA leverages the quick access time and reliable tactile vibrations on the smartwatches to deliver short self-report surveys at a high temporal density (like a sensor).

For more information, visit the project page.

(Credit: Aditya Ponnada)

Funding

NIH & Google Glass Research Award

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