title: Does the burden of the experience sampling method undermine data quality in state body image research?
abstract: Despite growing popularity of experience sampling methodology (ESM) for evaluations of state-based components of body image, there have been concerns that the frequent repeated measurement might encourage problematic responding resulting in low data quantity and/or quality. Using a sample of 105 women (mean age=24.84), this study used multilevel modelling to investigate whether (a) there were changes in compliance or response variability across a 7-day period, and (b) whether such changes are explained by participant characteristics. Present findings suggest that demands of ESM protocol undermine quantity more so than quality of obtained data. Decline in procedural compliance across the testing period correlated with BMI and body shame, whereas reduced variability in state-based assessments did not adversely impact the strength of association between state body satisfaction ratings and other variables in the dataset. The authors make several recommendations for ensuring the quality of ESM-based data in future studies.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Deakin University, Victoria, Australia. Electronic address: matthewf@deakin.edu.au.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fuller-Tyszkiewicz
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Skouteris
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.forename: Jed
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Blore
authors.forename: Millicent
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Holmes
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mills
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001828:Body Image / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012107:Research Design / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Body dissatisfaction; Ecological momentary assessment; Experience sampling method; Measurement reactivity; State body image