The Use of Ecological Momentary Assessment Protocols in Neuropsychology: A Meta-Analysis

Primary author: Olasunkanmi Kehinde
Co-author(s): Maureen Schmitter-Edgecombe
Faculty sponsor: Prof. Maureen Schmitter-Edgecombe

Primary college/unit: College of Education
Campus: Pullman

Abstract:

The aim of this meta-analysis is to examine the use of Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) protocols in different kinds of neuropsychological disorders to uncover the different factors that could moderate the effectiveness of EMA protocols in neuropsychology. Studies with the use of EMA to collect neuropsychological and psychological disorder data in the last 10 years were considered. A meta-analysis of 16 studies was performed to investigate the design characteristics of EMA protocols and possible factors that could moderate the effective use of EMA protocols in measuring any form of disorder in neuropsychology. Overall, the use of EMA protocols in measuring the neuropsychological and psychological disorder across studies were found to be effective (g =0.32). The distribution was heterogeneous Q (15) = 492.48, p < .05, I^2 = 96.95. A total of 97% of the variance that is due to true heterogeneity was between-studies variance while 3% of the variance was within-study variance based on sampling error. The studies with incentives, daily random prompts, duration of EMA, and the length of EMA might positively promote the quality of data collected from participants who are diagnosed with a neurological or psychological disorder. This meta-analysis has implications for the ways psychological disorders are measured momentarily.

Keywords: Protocol; Neuropsychology; Ecological Momentary Assessment