Relevance & Research Question: Smartphone app data collection has recently gained increasing attention in the social and behavioral sciences, allowing researchers to integrate surveys with sensor data, such as GPS to measure location and movement. Similar to other forms of surveys, participation rates of such studies in general population samples are generally low. Previous research has identified several study- and participant-level determinants of willingness to participate in smartphone app data collection. However, a comprehensive overview of which factors are predictors of willingness and a theoretical framework are currently lacking and some of the effects are inconsistent. To guide future app-based studies, we address the following research questions:

(1) Which study- and participant-level characteristics affect the willingness to participate in smartphone app data collection?

(2) Which theoretical frameworks can be used to understand participation decisions in smartphone app data collection?

Methods & Data: We conduct a systemic review and a meta-analysis on existing studies with app-based data collection guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) framework (Moher et al. 2009). We compile a list of keywords to search for relevant literature in bibliographic databases. We focus on peer-reviewed articles published in English. We also perform double coding to ensure a reliable selection of literature for the analysis. Finally, we map the identified determinants of willingness to potential theoretical frameworks that can explain participation behavior.

Results: In the systematic review, we summarize findings about study-level characteristics that are under the researchers' control, such as monetary incentives or invitation mode, and participant-level characteristics, such as privacy concerns and socio-demographics. Meanwhile, the meta-analysis focuses on selected characteristics, which have been most often covered in previous research.

Added Value: This study will provide a holistic understanding of the current state of research on participation decisions in app-based studies. The findings will also help researchers to design effective invitation strategies for future studies.

Relevance & Research Question: Dating apps create a unique digital sphere where people must disclose sensitive personal information about their demographics, location, values and lifestyle. Because of these intimate disclosures, dating apps constitute a strategic research site to explore how privacy concerns influence personal information disclosure. We use construal-level theory to understand how context influences a decision to disclose. Construal-level theory refers to the influence of psychological distance: the more psychologically distant an event the more mental effort required to understand it. When people have no direct experience in a context they rely on conventional stereotypes and quick generalizations. Using this theory we ask the research question: Why do people choose to disclose or not disclose personal Information on their dating app profile?
Methods & Data: We use in-depth, key-informant interviews with 27 active male and female users of the dating site Hinge. Interviews were transcribed and assigned descriptive, process-oriented and interpretative codes using Atlas.ti software.
Results: Dating site users distinguish two kinds of privacy risks. One class of threats is other dating app users who may misuse their information for embarrassment, harassment or stalking, particularly if it could identify the user. These are contexts where users have personal experience. People consider very carefully what information to disclose or hide at the user-level. The second class is the platform-level: app providers who use or sell their information for targeted advertisements. In this context users have no direct experience. Platform-level use is abstract and requires serious mental effort to understand it. Hence it is seen as not threatening and it is ignored. These results confirm construal-level theory.
Added Value: This research uncovers a previously unnoticed mechanism that governs privacy awareness. It provides clear policy guidelines for enhancing privacy awareness on social media and the Internet in general. Specifically, to encourage people to protect their personal information psychological distance has to be reduced. This can be done by explicit warnings about data use, or explicit statements about data sale and what third parties may do with the information. Warnings should be easily visible on the home page or other prominent locations.

Relevance & Research Question

The German Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) is continuing to develop its data collection instruments and is working on smart surveys in this context. By smart surveys we mean the combination of traditional question-based survey data collection and digital trace data collection by accessing device sensor data via an application (GPS, camera, microphone, accelerometer, ...).

Unlike traditional surveys, smart surveys not only ask respondents for information but also require them to download an app and allow access to sensor data. Destatis conducted focus groups to learn more about the attitudes, motives and obstacles regarding the willingness to participate in smart surveys. This was done as part of the European Union's Smart Survey Implementation (SSI) project, in which Destatis is participating alongside other project partners.

Methods & Data

Three focus groups with a total of 16 participants were conducted at the end of October 2023. The group discussions were led by a moderator using a guideline. The discussions lasted around two hours each and were video-recorded.

Results

Overall, it became clear that participants are more willing to take part in a survey, to download an app and to grant access to sensor data if they see a purpose in doing so on the one hand and have trust on the other. In order to motivate people to participate, it seems particularly important against this background to provide transparent information explaining why to conduct the survey, why they should participate, why access to the sensor data is desired as well as what is being done to ensure a high level of data protection and data security.

Added Value

In official statistics, the development of new survey methods is seen as an important step towards modern data collection. However, modern survey methods can only make a positive contribution if they are used by respondents. The results are intended to provide information on how potential respondents can best be addressed to participate. In the further course of the SSI project, a quantitative field test for recruitment is planned. The results of the focus groups will also be used to prepare this test.