Short take: designing a multinational smartphone app survey during COVID-19: rewards, risks, and recommendations

Davidson, J. C., Karadzhov, D. and Wilson, G. (2024) Short take: designing a multinational smartphone app survey during COVID-19: rewards, risks, and recommendations. Field Methods, (doi: 10.1177/1525822x231218192)

Abstract

Cost-effective and user-friendly, mobile phone-assisted methods have remained underutilized in qualitative social science research. The scarce methodological guidance, together with recruitment and ethical challenges, has arguably stifled advancements in this area. COVID-19 exposed the need to better equip researchers with the expertise and tools to conduct remote research effectively. In 2020, we designed and launched a smartphone survey application to collect real-time data from children’s sector professionals across the globe regarding best practices in, and challenges to, responding to the pandemic. In this short article, we reflect on the efficiency, quality, and acceptability afforded by the smartphone app survey, and outline recommendations for enhancing rigor and feasibility. We also present data snippets illustrating the positive impact of participation on respondents—a seldom-documented aspect of app-based research. Altogether, we advocate a flexible, pragmatic, and user-centered study and app design that aligns with respondents’ specific, situational needs, and preferences.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This work was supported by the Scottish Funding Council Global Challenges Research Fund (Reference: SFC/AN/18/2020).
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Karadzhov, Dr Dimitar
• Authors: Davidson, J. C., Karadzhov, D., and Wilson, G.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Mental Health and Wellbeing
• Journal Name: Field Methods
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• ISSN: 1525-822X
• ISSN (Online): 1552-3969
• Published Online: 08 January 2024
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2024 The Author(s)
• First Published: First published in Field Methods 2024
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons license