Topic

Methodology and Procedure

Methodology
This study adhered strictly to ethical guidelines outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki, ensuring that participants’
rights, safety, and well-being were protected throughout the research process. The research protocols were reviewed
and approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of the University of Konstanz, ensuring compliance with all
relevant ethical and regulatory guidelines. Informed consent was obtained from all participants prior to the study,
emphasizing transparency and voluntary participation.

Participants

A total of 38 individuals (including 28 females, constituting approximately 73.7% of the sample) participated in the
study. These participants ranged in age from 18 to 48 years, with an average age of 24.47 years (standard deviation =
5.88). This diversity in age allowed for the collection of data across a broad spectrum of adult life stages, though the
majority were younger adults. Importantly, none of the participants withdrew or needed to be excluded, ensuring a
robust and complete dataset for analysis. Among the participants, 33 individuals were students, 52.6% of whom were
pursuing studies in psychology. This background in psychology may have provided participants with heightened
awareness of behavioral research protocols, potentially contributing to higher compliance rates and accurate data
reporting.

Participants were offered an incentive to compensate for their time and effort. They could either opt for participation
in a lottery with the chance to win one of four €25 prizes, or they could receive course credits equivalent to two
hours of academic work. This dual-option incentive structure was designed to appeal to a wide range of participants,
accommodating both those motivated by financial rewards and those seeking academic benefits.

Recruitment

Participants were recruited using multiple channels to ensure diverse reach. These included the distribution of
leaflets within the university campus and posts in relevant Facebook groups. This multifaceted approach aimed to
maximize visibility and attract participants from different academic disciplines and backgrounds within the University
of Konstanz.
 Procedures

The study began with an introductory laboratory session designed to familiarize participants with the research
objectives and the tools they would use. During this session, each participant installed the movisensXS application
(version 0.8.4203) on their personal smartphones. The application was a critical tool for the event-based ambulatory
assessment method (EMA) employed in the study. Participants also downloaded the study survey (movisensXS
Library v4065) onto their devices, enabling real-time data entry and tracking.

The introductory session also involved the completion of a baseline questionnaire, which collected demographic
information such as age, gender, education level, and eating principles. This initial survey established a foundation for
understanding participants' individual characteristics and provided context for analyzing their eating behaviors.

Ambulatory Assessment Protocol

Participants were instructed to use the movisensXS application to record every eating occasion over a period of eight
consecutive days. This event-based ambulatory assessment method required participants to log their food intake
immediately before eating, ensuring that data was captured in close to real time. Participants were asked to provide
the following information for each eating occasion:

1. Type of meal: This included specifying whether the meal was a snack, breakfast, lunch, dinner, or any other
category relevant to the participant.

2. Photographic documentation: Participants were instructed to take pictures of their food to provide a visual record
of their dietary choices.

3. Free-text description: Participants were encouraged to describe the main components of their meals using a free
input field within the app. This allowed for a qualitative understanding of their food choices.

It is worth noting that fluid intake was not assessed in this study, as the focus was exclusively on solid food
consumption. This decision streamlined the data collection process and ensured participants remained focused on
the core aspects of the study.
Participants were provided with detailed instructions during the introductory session to ensure they understood how
to use the application and complete the logs accurately. This hands-on training minimized potential confusion and
helped maintain high compliance throughout the study period.

Follow-Up and Final Interviews

After completing the eight-day data collection period, participants returned to the laboratory for individual final
interviews. These sessions provided an opportunity to review the collected data, address any discrepancies, and
gather qualitative feedback on participants’ experiences using the app and participating in the study. The final
interviews also ensured that participants fully understood the study outcomes and felt their contributions were
valued.

Conclusion

This meticulous methodology underscores the study’s commitment to capturing eating behaviors in a natural and
realistic context. By employing an event-based ambulatory assessment method, the research avoided the recall
biases often associated with traditional dietary surveys. The combination of real-time data logging, visual
documentation, and qualitative descriptions offered a comprehensive view of participants' dietary habits, setting a
robust foundation for subsequent analysis.

NAME – AKANKSHA SINGH

ROLL NUMBER- 1123109

COURSE – BSC(P) LIFE SCIENCE