Experience sampling method studies in physical activity research: the relevance of causal reasoning.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The experience sampling method (ESM), also known as ecological momentary assessment, is gaining popularity in physical activity research. This method involves assessing participants' behaviors and experiences repeatedly over time. One key advantage of ESM is its ability to temporally separate the dependent and independent variable of interest, reducing the risk of reverse causality. However, temporal separation alone is insufficient for establishing causality. This methodology paper illustrates the importance of the identification phase in drawing causal conclusions from ESM data. In the identification phase the causal effect of interest (or estimand) is specified and the assumptions under which a statistical association can be considered as causal are visualized using c

SUBMITTER: Poppe L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11884166 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature