With the deeper integration of digital media into everyday life, communication scholars’ interest in measuring the predictors, contexts, and consequences of media use directly in daily life has increased. One of the most suitable methods for studying media use in everyday life are experience sampling methods (ESMs). In ESM designs, participants are sent several, short surveys per day, asking them about current or recent experiences. ESM has many advantages including the possibility to assess situational factors and to minimize recall problems. Yet, ESM also has disadvantages with the most important being the intrusiveness in participants’ daily lives and the effort required from them. To reduce effort and increase compliance, in ESM, constructs are often assessed with one item, however, there are nearly no validated one-item measures for ESM available. In this project, we aim at validating one-item measures for ESM context for key communication projects and generally improve methodological approaches and design in ESM studies.
Susanne Baumgartner, Lara Wolfers (March 22)
