Table 1.
Methodological features of ecological momentary assessment (EMA) nutrition and physical activity studies in youth.
| Citation | Technologya | Prompt approachb | Monitoring periodsc | Duration (days) per monitoring periodd | Prompt frequency per daye | Prompt intervalf |
| Berkman et al [22] | Paper-and-pencil diary and cell phone | Event-based | 1 | 14 | 4 | Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and bedtime predefined by participants |
| Biddle et al [14] | Paper-and-pencil diary | Fixed interval contingent | 1 | 4 | 44 weekdays 68 weekends |
15 minutes |
| Biddle et al [15] | Paper-and-pencil diary | Interval contingent | 1 | 4 | 44 weekdays 68 weekends |
15 minutes |
| Carels et al [23] | Paper-and-pencil diary | Event-based & random interval contingent | 1 | 7 | - | <15 minutes of event |
| Dunton et al [16] | Palm III handheld computer | Fixed interval contingent | 8 | 4 | 20-30 | 30 minutes (+ 10 minutes) |
| Dunton et al [24] | HTC Shadow cell phone | Random interval contingent | 2 | 4 | 3 weekdays 7 weekends |
Random within 2-hour blocks |
| Gorely et al [17] | Paper-and-pencil diary | Fixed interval contingent | 2 | 4 | 44 weekdays 68 weekends |
15 minutes |
| Grenard et al [25] | Palm E2 PCA handheld computer | Event-based, fixed interval contingent, and evening report | 1 | 7 | 2 weekday 4 weekends |
Event-based: < 15 minutes of event Fixed interval: 3 hours |
| Mak et al [18] | Paper-and-pencil diary | Event-based | 1 | 4 | 7 | 3 hours |
| Rouse et al [26] | Paper-and-pencil diary | Fixed interval contingent | 1 | 2 | 44 weekdays 68 weekends |
15 minutes |
| Rusby et al [19] | iPod touch handheld computer | Random interval contingent | 4 | 7 | 3 M-T 4 F 6 Sat. 5 Sun |
90-120 minutes |
| Spook et al [20] | Blackberry OS, Android, iOS, mobile phones | Event-based and interval contingent | 1 | 7 | 5 | 3-4 hours |
| Thomas et al [27] | Palm-top handheld computer | Random interval contingent | 1 | 7 | 6 | Variable |
aTechnology: operating system, device type, and/or phone model (in as much detail as was provided in the paper).
bPrompt approach: type of EMA sampling.
cMonitoring periods: number of waves EMA was used in the study.
dDuration: number of days each monitoring period lasted.
ePrompt frequency: number of times it was intended for participants to answer EMA prompts.
fPrompt interval: time between each EMA prompt.