Matt,
It depends upon how much of the process that you want to automate. iOS and Android smartphones will both have web browsers; so an inexpensive way to do this is to simple develop a webpage to collect data (e.g., use whatever you already have access to, like SurveyMonkey or Qualtrics) and then text message a link to the survey to your participants (which can be done via a web browser) at random or pre-determined intervals (which can be determined via Excel). If you want those intervals to be determined automatically, or if you want the text messaging to be done automatically, or if you prefer to use smartphone notifications instead, etc., etc., all of these things will make a dedicated app (or at least, a management platform) more desirable.
There are a couple of platforms I've heard of to do this sort of management, although I haven't used either myself, so YMMV:
https://metricwire.com/
http://beepme.yourexp.at/
Having said all that, I recall seeing a study recently (can't find the cite though, sorry – might have been at ACM CHI or JEP:Applied?) that text messages are more likely to result in a successful survey completion than an app notification for this sort of thing. The main issue is that various phone architectures handle app notifications quite differently – and may not even show up on some phones – but text messages are handled in a more universal manner that is less likely to confuse participants (and are simply more noticeable than notifications if you're not actively using your phone).
Hope that helps!
-Richard
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Richard N. Landers, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Industrial/Organizational Psychology
Old Dominion University | Mills Godwin Building 346E, Norfolk VA 23529
Main: http://rlanders.net | Blog: http://neoacademic.com | Lab: http://tntlab.org
Tw: @rnlanders | Ph: 757-683-4212 | Fx: 757-683-5087
From: Organizational Behavior Division Listserv [mailto:OB@aomlists.pace.edu] On Behalf Of Anthony Sterns
Sent: Tuesday, September 9, 2014 6:10 PM
To: OB@aomlists.pace.edu
Subject: Re: [OB-LIST] Experience Sampling Methodology: Free or Open Source Software?
Hi Matt,
iRxReminder is just bringing to market experience sampling software for iOS and Android called . Easy to set-up with no programming required. Its $249 for a license. See ESm.iRxReminder.com. That's the beta site. You can use the Android beta for free at the moment. Take a look, and if you are interested I can arrange for a demo.
Adjunct Associate Professor
On Tue, Sep 9, 2014 at 2:33 PM, Matt Monnot <mjmonnot@usfca.edu> wrote:
Hi,
I'm considering a study utilizing the Experience Sampling Methodology (sometimes referred to as Ecological Momentary Assessment or in situ sampling). The data will be closed-ended subjective self-report survey items, however if you're aware of more robust (e.g., ambulatory) software then all the better. I'm looking for software that respondents can install on either Windows-based, Android, or IOS handheld devices. I'm trying to locate available software that is either free for academic research or open source.
I'm happy to compile a list of all available free/open source software and re-post. Thanks in advance. - Matt
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Matt Monnot
Malloy Hall 411
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Anthony Sterns PhD
(330) 258 9000
(330) 606 6675 cell