From Burden to Enjoyment: A User-Centered Approach to Engage Adolescents in Intensive Longitudinal Research

Introduction. Adolescent psychology is embracing intensive longitudinal methods, such as diaries and experience sampling techniques, to investigate real-life experiences. However, participants might perceive the repetitive nature of such data collection techniques as burdensome and demotivating, resulting in decreased compliance rates. In this tutorial paper, we present a user-centered approach aimed at making participation in experience sampling and daily diary studies a meaningful and fun experience for adolescents. Methods. In three major research projects that took place between 2019 – 2023, more than 4,000 Dutch adolescents participated (12 - 25 years old). To improve the participants’ user journey, adolescents were invited to co-design our studies and share their expertise in interviews (n = 459), focus groups (n = 101), design decisions (i.e., A/B tests, n = 107), pilots (n = 163), exit interviews (n = 167), and by answering user experience questionnaires (n = 2,109). Results. Across projects, we discovered five different main intrinsic and extrinsic motives to participate in intensive longitudinal studies: (1) rewards, (2) fun and interest, (3) helping science or the greater good, (4) helping the scientist or another person, and (5) gaining self-insight. We provide concrete examples of how we tailored our study designs to address these specific motives to optimize youth engagement. Conclusions. The engagement of adolescents in intensive longitudinal studies can be enhanced by making it a meaningful and enjoyable experience, aligned with their own motives.