Case Study: Helmut Schmidt University Hamburg maps decision-making dynamics with ExpiWell

Helmut Schmidt University Hamburg captures 18,586 observations with ExpiWell

The research team at Helmut Schmidt University Hamburg, led by Shiva Pauer, faced the challenge of studying the temporal dynamics of human decision-making and internal conflict with high ecological validity. They needed to move beyond static laboratory snapshots and capture these fleeting psychological processes as they unfolded in real-time, all while mitigating pervasive issues like recall bias and ensuring rigorous data quality. To achieve this, they utilized the Experience Sampling Method (ESM) and required a robust technological platform to manage the intensive data collection.

The team implemented their solution using the ExpiWell platform, which provided the flexible logic to integrate random signal-contingent surveys with event-contingent meal reports directly on participants' smartphones. This allowed for precise, high-resolution process-tracing of psychological states. The results were highly successful, yielding 18,586 observations with an excellent completion rate of 80.5%. ExpiWell enabled the discovery of a systematic countdown to decision-making, revealing that internal conflict peaks 36 minutes before a meal, providing a clear opportunity window for timing effective behavioral interventions.

Helmut Schmidt University Hamburg