Research Methods for Studying Daily Life: Experience Sampling and a Multilevel Approach to Study Time and Mood at Work: Experience Sampling and a Multilevel Approach to Study Time and Mood at Work

Mariona Portell*, Robin M. Hogarth, Anna Cuxart

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in BookChapterResearchpeer-review

Abstract

The Experience Sampling Method (ESM) allows the examination of ongoing thoughts, feelings and actions as they occur in the course of everyday life. A prime benefit is that it captures events in their natural context, thereby complementing information obtained by more traditional techniques. We used ESM to study time and mood at work. Our data were collected by sending 30 text messages over 10 working days to each of 168 part-time workers. On each occasion, respondents assessed their mood. We explored the joint effects of three sets of variables: activities in which people are engaged; individual differences; and time (i.e., when mood is measured). Since the data in our study can be thought of as being collected at two levels, we applied techniques of hierarchical linear models. The results indicated that activities were significant but no systematic individual differences were detected. There were some small diurnal effects as well as an overall “Friday effect.� Lastly, the weather had little or no influence on self-reported mood state. We discuss the results in terms of their methodological implications for studying daily life.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationIntelligent Systems Reference Library
PublisherSpringer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH
Pages69-94
Number of pages26
Volume164
ISBN (Electronic)1868-4408
ISBN (Print)1868-4394
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2020

Publication series

NameIntelligent Systems Reference Library
Volume164
ISSN (Print)1868-4394
ISSN (Electronic)1868-4408

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