BEEP! SCIENCE IN YOUR POCKET: WHY DO SCIENTISTS USE THE EXPERIENCE SAMPLING METHOD TO UNDERSTAND PEOPLE’S DAILY LIFE?

Everyday life is full of little moments: waking up, eating breakfast, chatting with a friend, playing a game, helping out at home, or getting ready for bed. Some moments pass quickly, while others stay with you, often because of how these moments make you feel. When someone asks, “How was your day?” or “How have you been feeling lately?” you can only give one answer: “Great,” “Not too bad,” or perhaps “A bit sad.” But does that single answer capture everything that has happened in your day? Scientists use the Experience Sampling Method (ESM) to fill in the missing pieces. Instead of asking once, ESM checks in multiple times a day. This helps scientists see how feelings, thoughts, and behaviors change throughout the day. In this article, we explain what ESM is, why scientists use it, and how you can design your own ESM study!