How can digital citizen science approaches improve ethical smartphone use surveillance among youth: Traditional surveys versus ecological momentary assessments

Sarah Al-akshar, Sheriff Tolulope Ibrahim and Tarun Reddy Katapally

PLOS Digital Health, 2024, vol. 3, issue 11, 1-17

Abstract: Ubiquitous use of smartphones among youth poses significant challenges related to non-communicable diseases, including poor mental health. Although traditional survey measures can be used to assess smartphone use among youth, they are subject to recall bias. This study aims to compare self-reported smartphone use via retrospective modified traditional recall survey and prospective Ecological Momentary Assessments (EMAs) among youth. This study uses data from the Smart Platform, which engages with youth as citizen scientists. Youth (N = 77) aged 13–21 years in two urban jurisdictions in Canada (Regina and Saskatoon) engaged with our research team using a custom-built application via their own smartphones to report on a range of behaviours and outcomes on eight consecutive days. Youth reported smartphone use utilizing a traditional validated measure, which was modified to capture retrospective smartphone use on both weekdays and weekend days. In addition, daily EMAs were also time-triggered over a period of eight days to capture prospective smartphone use. Demographic, behavioural, and contextual factors were also collected. Data analyses included t-test and linear regression using Python statistical software. There was a significant difference between weekdays, weekends and overall smartphone use reported retrospectively and prospectively (p-value =

Date: 2024
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:plo:pdig00:0000448

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pdig.0000448

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