ICAT [article] : development of an internet-based data collection method for ecological momentary assessment using personal cell phones
by
Kuntsche, Emmanuel N
; Labhart, Florian.
Material type: 
ArticleSAPHIR theme(s): E-Health - Cyber santé - Technologie médicale - Dossier du patientMeSH subject(s): Cellular Phone | Internet | Data CollectionAddiction suisse subject(s): Informatik | Datenverarbeitung | Methode | Trend | ErhebungPUBLICATION TYPE SAPHIR: Journal Article | Journal ArticleOnline resources: Date de consultation : 25.07.2012 | Date de consultation : 25.07.2012 Summary: Rapid advances in mobile data-transfer technologies offer new possibilities regarding the use of cell phones to conduct assessments in a persons natural environment in real time. This paper describes features of a new Internet-based cell phone-optimised assessment technique (ICAT) which consists of a retrospective baseline assessment combined with text messages sent to the participants personal cell phones providing a hyperlink to an Internet-stored cell phone-optimised questionnaire. Two participation conditions were used to test variations in response burden. Retention rates, completion rates, and response times in different subgroups were tested by means of X 2-tests, Cox regression and logistic regression. Among the 237 initial participants, we observed a retention rate of 90.3% from the baseline assessment to the cell-phone part, and 80.4% repeated participation in the 30 daily assessments. Each day, 40% to 70% of the questionnaires were returned; one quarter in less than three minutes. Qualitative interviews underscored the ease of use of ICAT. This technique appears to be an innovative, convenient, and cost-effective way of collecting data on situational characteristics while minimising recall bias. Due to its flexibility, ICAT can be applied in various disciplines, whether as part of small pilot studies or large-scale, cross-cultural and multisite research projects. [Authors]
| Item type | Current location | Call number | Status | Date due |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Addiction Suisse; Bibliothèque Bibliothèque | ART-ISPA-1816 (Browse shelf) | Available |
Rapid advances in mobile data-transfer technologies offer new possibilities regarding the use of cell phones to conduct assessments in a persons natural environment in real time. This paper describes features of a new Internet-based cell phone-optimised assessment technique (ICAT) which consists of a retrospective baseline assessment combined with text messages sent to the participants personal cell phones providing a hyperlink to an Internet-stored cell phone-optimised questionnaire. Two participation conditions were used to test variations in response burden. Retention rates, completion rates, and response times in different subgroups were tested by means of X 2-tests, Cox regression and logistic regression. Among the 237 initial participants, we observed a retention rate of 90.3% from the baseline assessment to the cell-phone part, and 80.4% repeated participation in the 30 daily assessments. Each day, 40% to 70% of the questionnaires were returned; one quarter in less than three minutes. Qualitative interviews underscored the ease of use of ICAT. This technique appears to be an innovative, convenient, and cost-effective way of collecting data on situational characteristics while minimising recall bias. Due to its flexibility, ICAT can be applied in various disciplines, whether as part of small pilot studies or large-scale, cross-cultural and multisite research projects. [Authors]