Information sheet for participants
Measuring well-being using a smartphone in diary studies
We are researchers at the University of Leicester and Birkbeck, London, who wish to
invite you to take part in our study, which tests a new method for collecting real-time
data on your well-being using a smartphone App. Taking part is entirely voluntary, and
you are free to withdraw at any stage.
What is the purpose of this study?
At the moment, we have a prototype of the App and the purpose of the study is to
receive feedback from users in order to improve it.
Am I eligible?
This study requires you to be over 18 and a member of staff at either the University of
Leicester or Birkbeck, London. You must also have an Android smartphone to be able
to download and use the App.
What will you have to do if you agree to participate?
It involves downloading the app to your phone and answering 3–4 demographic
questions. You will then receive 5 notifications each day for 5 days where you will
respond to one question. On the final day, you will be asked to complete a short wellbeing questionnaire. This will be followed by an interview at an arranged time, which
can be conducted either face-to-face or by phone. You will be asked questions relating
to your experience of using the App, and any feedback you wish to contribute. The
interview may be recorded for research purpose, but you will still retain your
anonymity. Please read the consent form carefully in relation to using (anonymised)
quotes from the interview in publications. Your overall participation in the study
should take approximately 30 minutes.
All data collected will anonymised (using unique ID numbers), and your consent and
demographic information will be stored separately from the main dataset. The UK
Data Protection Act 1998 will apply to all information gathered within the APP and
during the interview (including any recordings). All data will be held on passwordlocked encrypted computer files, where they can only be accessed by the three
primary researchers.
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What are the possible benefits of taking part?
You will be one of the first to try out this new app that will change the way well-being
is assessed over time and you will be greatly help us in the development of this novel
way of collecting data on people’s happiness. You will be able to identify your wellbeing at a particular point in time on a two-dimensional plane
We hope you will participate in our study. If you are happy to do so, please complete
the attached participation form and return it to us: ([email protected])
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact any of us.
Professor Stephen Wood, ([email protected]) School of Business, University of
Leicester,
George
Michaelides
([email protected])
and
Alyson
Kelleher
[email protected] Birkbeck, University of London
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Participation form
The project: University of Leicester and Birkbeck study: A trial of an App
for measuring well-being using a smartphone in diary studies.
Contact details of the researcher: [email protected]
Participation
I am happy to participate in the App study (please tick).

Motivation for participating
Please read carefully the following statements and then
tick the one that comes closest to your motivation for being
involved in the study:
1) I am more than happy to take part in this study.

2) I will take part in this study, only if I am entered in a prize draw
which I have a chance of winning.

3) I will only take part in this study if I am paid to do it.

4) I am happy to take part in this study without a tangible
reward but would prefer to have one.

Please return the form to us using the contact details above, and we
will then be in contact with you about your participation in our study.
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