1. Peer-vasive Computing: Leveraging Peers to Enhance the
Accuracy of Self-Reports in Mobile Human Studies
Allan Berrocal
PhD Student
Katarzyna Wac
Assoc. Professor
Mobile Human Contributions: Opportunities and Challenges (MHC’18)
UbiComp 2018
October 8th, 2018 Singapore

2. Outline
1. Introducing concepts
2. Scientific foundation overview
3. Overview of previous work using peers
4. Description of Peer-MA
5. Description of mQoL-Peer
6. Current state of the research
7. Wrap up
2

3. ❖ Hektner et al. 2007. Experience Sampling Method: Measuring the Quality of Everyday Life
❖ Shiffman et al. 2008. Ecological Momentary Assessment. Annu Rev Clin Psychol. 4
❖ Paulhus and S. Vazire. 2005. The Self-Report Method. Handbook of Research Methods in Personality Psychology
Has been used in social experiments for a while
[Hektner, Shiffman]
- Used commonly for short surveys (self report)
- Responds to different triggers
- Captures context related data from smartphone sensors
- Generally considered inexpensive
Pros Cons
. Less recall bias vs diary-based approach
. Extra data collected from device sensors
. Technological enhancements for the researcher
. Interpretability vs EDA, HR, BP
. Standard issues: anchoring, primacy,
recency, time pressure, consistency
. PLUS: self-presentation (SD), acquiescent,
reactant, extreme and random responding
[Paulhus]
3
Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA)

4. ❖ Mayo et al. 2017. Montreal Accord on Patient-Reported Outcomes Use Series-Paper 2. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology 89
- Same characteristics of EMA
- Data is collected from observers
Pros Cons
. used in clinical health [Mayo] (proxy/caregivers)
. leverages the availability of wearables and daily
social connections
. allows anonymous observations from peers
. assumes observers assess
emotions and moods in others
. subject being observed
fatigue, anxiety, pain,
sleep, motivation ...
4
Peer-ceived Momentary Assessment (Peer-MA)

5. source [4]
5
Scientific Foundation
❖ Mayo et al. 2017. Montreal Accord on Patient-Reported Outcomes Use Series-Paper 2. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology 89
Peers

6. ● General health conditions [Neumann]
● Stroke rehabilitation [Duncan, Sneeuw]
● Community integration after severe injuries [Cusick]
● Chronic stress detection [Kromm]
● Informally used for counseling among students with health problems [Eisenberg]
● Informally among college students with suicidal intentions [Drumet]
6
Previous work using peers
❖ Neumann et al. 2000. The Use of Proxy Respondents in Studies of Older Adults: Lessons, Challenges, and Opportunities. Journal of American Geriatrics Society
❖ Duncan et al.. 2002. Evaluation of proxy responses to the Stroke Impact Scale. Stroke
❖ Sneeuw et al. 1997. Assessing Quality of Life After Stroke. Stroke, American Heart Association
❖ Cusick et al. 2001. The use of Proxies in Community Integration Research. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
❖ Kromm et al. 2010. Peer Ratings of Chronic Stress: Can Spouses and Friends Provide Reliable and Valid Assessments of a Target Person [...]? Stress and Health
❖ Eisenberg et al. 2012. Help Seeking for Mental Health on College Campuses: Review of Evidence and Next Steps for Research and Practice. Harvard Review of Psychiatry
❖ Eisenberg et al. 2011. Mental Health Service Utilization Among College Students in the United States. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease
❖ Drumet al. 2009. New Data on the Nature of Suicidal Crises in College Students: Shifting the Paradigm. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice
❖ A. De Masi et al. 2016. mQoL Smart Lab: Quality of Life Living Lab for Interdisciplinary Experiments. UbiMI Workshop, ACM Int. Conf. on Pervasive and Ubiquitous Computing

7. Peer : close, trusted friends or family members taking the role of
observers to provide Observer-Reported Outcomes (ObsRO)
Peer-MA : is an EMA, completed by an observer (peer) during the
same time window when the target person completes an EMA
To chosen peers
Confidence assessment
7
Peer-MA in depth

8. mQoL-Peer : extension of Lab’s platform mQoL Smart
Lab [De Masi] to design and launch human mobile
studies.
● Study configuration:
● EMA/Peer-MA features:
● Sensors data:
8
❖ A. De Masi et al. 2016. mQoL Smart Lab: Quality of Life Living Lab for Interdisciplinary Experiments. UbiMI Workshop, ACM Int. Conf. on Pervasive and Ubiquitous Computing
mQoL-Peer in depth

9. Peer-MA variables :
Number of peers
Frequency of peer-MA (paired/unpaired)
Peer-MA metrics :
This is our own contribution to support researchers
who conduct mobile human studies
A. Berrocal, K. Wac. MHC Workshop, Singapore, Oct 8,
9
mQoL-Peer in depth

10. Currently running a study about human stress awareness with support from peers in Switzerland
In the making:
A. Berrocal, K. Wac. MHC Workshop, Singapore, Oct 8,
10
Ongoing work
Geneva University Hospital
Department of Psychiatry
Early assessment of depression
Stanford University Medical Center
Department of Surgery
Quality of life assessment for patients
undergoing organ transplants
University of Bern
Department of Psychology
Stress at home and work

11. EMA
Ecological Momentary Assessment
Peer-MA
Peer-ceived Momentary Assessment
A. Berrocal, K. Wac. MHC Workshop, Singapore, Oct 8,
11
Summarizing

12. Thank you for your attention
Allan Berrocal
Email: allan.berrocal@unige.ch
LinkedIn: allanberrocal
Help my research https://www.tinyurl.com/QoL-Stress
Katarzyna Wac
Assoc. Professor
Mobile Human Contributions: Opportunities and Challenges (MHC’18)
UbiComp 2018
October 8th, 2018 Singapore