TY - JOUR
T1 - Tracking Infant Development With a Smartphone: A Practical Guide to the Experience Sampling Method
AU - van den Heuvel, M.I.
AU - Bülow, A.
AU - Heininga, V.E.
AU - de Moor, Lisanne
AU - Janssen, Loes
AU - Vanden Abeele, M.
AU - Boekhorst, M. G. B. M.
PY - 2021/12
Y1 - 2021/12
N2 - The COVID-19 pandemic has forced developmental researchers to rethink their traditional research practices. The growing need to study infant development at a distance has shifted our research paradigm to online and digital monitoring of infants and families, using electronic devices, such as smartphones. In this practical guide, we introduce the Experience Sampling Method (ESM) – a research method to collect data, in the moment, on multiple occasions over time – for examining infant development at a distance. ESM is highly suited for assessing dynamic processes of infant development and family dynamics, such as parent-infant interactions and parenting practices. It can also be used to track highly fluctuating family dynamics (e.g., infant and parental mood or behavior) and routines (e.g., activity levels and feeding practices). The aim of the current paper was to provide an overview by explaining what ESM is and for what types of research ESM is best suited. Next, we provide a brief step-by-step guide on how to start and run an ESM study, including preregistration, development of a questionnaire, using wearables and other hardware, planning and design considerations, and examples of possible analysis techniques. Finally, we discuss common pitfalls of ESM research and how to avoid them.
AB - The COVID-19 pandemic has forced developmental researchers to rethink their traditional research practices. The growing need to study infant development at a distance has shifted our research paradigm to online and digital monitoring of infants and families, using electronic devices, such as smartphones. In this practical guide, we introduce the Experience Sampling Method (ESM) – a research method to collect data, in the moment, on multiple occasions over time – for examining infant development at a distance. ESM is highly suited for assessing dynamic processes of infant development and family dynamics, such as parent-infant interactions and parenting practices. It can also be used to track highly fluctuating family dynamics (e.g., infant and parental mood or behavior) and routines (e.g., activity levels and feeding practices). The aim of the current paper was to provide an overview by explaining what ESM is and for what types of research ESM is best suited. Next, we provide a brief step-by-step guide on how to start and run an ESM study, including preregistration, development of a questionnaire, using wearables and other hardware, planning and design considerations, and examples of possible analysis techniques. Finally, we discuss common pitfalls of ESM research and how to avoid them.
KW - experience sampling method/ecological momentary assessment
KW - infant development
KW - longitudinaldata
KW - ambulatory monitor
KW - infancy
U2 - 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.703743
DO - 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.703743
M3 - Review article
SN - 1664-1078
VL - 12
SP - 1
EP - 10
JO - Frontiers in Psychology
JF - Frontiers in Psychology
M1 - 703743
ER -