title: Using ecological momentary assessment to evaluate current physical activity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to assess the value of ecological momentary assessment in evaluating physical activity among children, adolescents, and adults. It also determines whether ecological momentary assessment fulfills the criteria of validity, reliability, objectivity, norms, and standardization applied to the tools used for the evaluation of physical activity.
  
  
  METHODS
  The EBSCO-CINHAL, Medline, PsycINFO, PubMed, and SPORTDiscuss databases were reviewed in December 2012 for articles associated with EMA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 20 articles examined, half (10) used electronic methods for data collection, although various methods were used, ranging from pen and paper to smartphone applications. Ten studies used objective monitoring equipment. Nineteen studies were performed over 4 days. While the validity of the EMA method was discussed in 18 studies, only four found it to be objective. In all cases, the EMA procedures were precisely documented and confirmed to be feasible.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ecological momentary assessment is a valid, reliable, and feasible approach to evaluate activity and sedentary behavior. Researchers should be aware that while ecological momentary assessment offers many benefits, it simultaneously imposes many limitations which should be considered when studying physical activity.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Rehabilitation, Józef Piłsudski University of Physical Education in Warsaw, ul Marymoncka 34, 01-813 Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Jolanta
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Marszalek
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Rehabilitation, Józef Piłsudski University of Physical Education in Warsaw, ul Marymoncka 34, 01-813 Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Morgulec-Adamowicz
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Rehabilitation, Józef Piłsudski University of Physical Education in Warsaw, ul Marymoncka 34, 01-813 Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Izabela
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rutkowska
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Rehabilitation, Józef Piłsudski University of Physical Education in Warsaw, ul Marymoncka 34, 01-813 Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kosmol
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D004463:Ecology; D006801:Humans; D016239:MEDLINE; D009043:Motor Activity; D039781:PubMed