Designing Real-Time Research: Practical Approaches to Ecological Momentary Assessment
Traditional Workshop 12 - Designing Real-time Research: Practical Approaches to Ecological Momentary Assessment
Saturday, June 27, 2026
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM PDT
Location: Sierra A, 5th Floor
Earn 3 Credit
Keywords: Measurement, Research Methods, Technology / Mobile Health Level of Familiarity: Basic to Moderate Recommended Readings: Clark, K., Phillips, K., Park, E., Argiros, A., Nikolaidis-Konstas, A., Sexton, J., Cyperski, M., Kleiman, E., & Pachankis, J. (2025). Development, feasibility, and acceptability of a smartphone-based ecological momentary assessment of minority stress and suicidal ideation among sexual and gender minority youth. PLOS ONE, 20(8), e0330204. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0330204 , Burke, L. E., Shiffman, S., Music, E., Styn, M. A., Kriska, A., Smailagic, A., Siewiorek, D., Ewing, L. J., Chasens, E., French, B., Mancino, J., Mendez, D., Strollo, P., & Rathbun, S. L. (2017). Ecological momentary assessment in behavioral research: Addressing technological and human participant challenges. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 19(3), e77. https://doi.org/10.2196/jmir.7138 , Russell, M. A., & Gajos, J. M. (2020). Annual Research Review: Ecological momentary assessment studies in child psychology and psychiatry. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 61(3), 376-394. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.13204 , Smith, K. E., & Juarascio, A. (2019). From ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to ecological momentary intervention (EMI): past and future directions for ambulatory assessment and interventions in eating disorders. Current psychiatry reports, 21(7), 53. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-019-1046-8 ,
Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) methods offer unparalleled opportunities to capture real-time data on thoughts, emotions, and behaviors as they unfold in participants' everyday lives. Yet, developing an effective EMA protocol requires a careful balance of scientific rigor, participant engagement, ethical safeguards, and practical feasibility. This interactive, half-day workshop is designed for researchers, clinicians, and students interested in integrating EMA into their work, whether in clinical or community settings. Participants will gain a foundational understanding of EMA research, including key considerations in study design, community member involvement, measurement selection, assessment frequency and duration, participant compensation, and retention strategies. We will explore practical topics including sample size and recruitment planning, software selection, research assistant training needs, and approaches to addressing safety and ethical concerns particularly in sensitive research areas. Emerging directions such as ecological momentary interventions (EMIs) and Just-In-Time Adaptive Interventions (JITAIs) will be introduced. The workshop will blend didactic content with applied examples, including a case study of EMA design in suicide risk research with LGBTQ+ youth, and hands-on small-group activities where participants will draft components of their own EMA protocol. By the end, attendees will leave with a toolkit of best practices for turning their research questions into well-designed EMA studies.
Outline: I. Introduction to Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) a. Overview of EMA methods and key concepts b. Advantages of real-time, real-world data capture II. Study Design Considerations a. Study design and duration b. Measurement selection and assessment frequency c. Community member involvement III. Practical Implementation a. Sample size and recruitment planning b. Software selection c. Research assistant training d. Participant compensation and retention strategies IV. Ethical and Safety Considerations a. Addressing sensitive research areas b. Safeguards for vulnerable populations c. Case study: EMA in suicide risk research with LGBTQ+ youth V. Emerging Directions a. Ecological Momentary Interventions (EMIs) b. Just-In-Time Adaptive Interventions (JITAIs) VI. Hands-On Application a. Small-group protocol drafting activities
Learning Objectives:
Identify key design considerations for developing an EMA protocol, including measurement selection, assessment frequency, participant recruitment and retention, and safety and risk management considerations.
Discuss strategies for involving community members and experts in study design to ensure the EMA protocol is responsive to participant needs.
Create a preliminary EMA study plan, including practical decisions about software, recruitment, retention, and data collection logistics.
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