Participant Burden & Reactivity

BURDEN-EMAStudy Methods

7 items

Measures how heavy the protocol felt and whether taking part changed what was being measured. Reactivity is the standard threat to validity in ESM and is almost never measured — these items make it reportable. Pairs with the Burden Centre's observed-compliance estimates.

Usage

Used individually rather than summed. Administer at the end of a study, or weekly in longer protocols to track whether burden accumulates. Comparing self-reported burden against observed completion rates is more informative than either alone.

License: Free to use and adapt.

Items (7)

Burden

#1sliderBurden

How burdensome did you find taking part in this study?

0100 · "Not at all burdensome" → "Extremely burdensome"

#2likertBurden

How disruptive were the notifications to your daily life?

17 · "Not at all" → "Extremely"

#3choiceBurden

How long did a typical survey feel like it took?

Under 1 minute · 1–2 minutes · 3–5 minutes · 6–10 minutes · More than 10 minutes

#7choiceBurden

Would you be willing to continue answering surveys at this frequency?

Yes, at this frequency · Yes, but less often · No

Reactivity

#4likertReactivity

Did answering these questions change how you felt?

17 · "Not at all" → "Very much"

#5likertReactivity

Did taking part in this study change your behaviour in any way?

17 · "Not at all" → "Very much"

#6textinputReactivity

If your behaviour or feelings changed, please describe how.

Use this module in your own ESM/EMA study — drop it into a survey within SMAAT.