Frequently Asked Questions
Last updated - Nov 14, 2024
We've compiled answers to the most common queries about our app. Whether you're curious about using Citizen Scientist for your study or wondering how to get involved as a participant, explore our FAQ to find the information you need.
About Citizen Scientist
Q: What is the Citizen Scientist app?
A: Citizen Scientist is a flexible app designed to collect geo-located research data in real time.
It allows data collection on environmental factors and mental wellbeing in real-time, providing researchers and participants with insights into how their surroundings impact their mental health.
Citizen Scientist can also be used to deliver and assess smartphone-based interventions.
Participants can be allocated to different experimental conditions, enabling researchers to compare impacts on mental wellbeing.
Q: What is Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA)?
A: Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) is a research method used in the Citizen Scientist app to collect information about the experiences of participants in real-time, as they happen in everyday life. EMA can gather data several times a day, helping researchers understand how people’s environments and mental wellbeing change throughout the day.
Q: Why is EMA better than traditional methods?
A: EMA has several advantages over traditional methods like paper surveys or one-time questionnaires. It collects data in real-time, so one doesn’t have to rely on memory, making the information more accurate. EMA can also gather data multiple times a day, allowing researchers to see changes in experiences and mental wellbeing over time. Since EMA collects information in everyday settings, it reflects real-life experiences better than methods used in controlled lab environments. Using smartphones makes it easier and less disruptive. Plus, using GPS-tagged EMA allows responses to be linked with things like weather, or air quality, giving researchers a better understanding of how the environment affects participants.
Q: What kind of interventions can be supported by Citizen Scientist?
A: In case of a study involving an intervention, Citizen Scientist allows participants to be allocated to different conditions. For example, depending on the aim of the study, participants in the active condition might receive prompts to take their medication, keep physically active or interacting with nature as part of their everyday life, whereas participants in the control conditions might not receive such guidance. The data from the two groups can then be compared to assess the effectiveness of the intervention.
Q: Who created the Citizen Scientist app?
A: The Citizen Scientist app was created as a collaboration between King’s College London, Nomad Projects and That Product Studio with support from Wellcome.
Technical questions
Q: What kind of phone do participants need?
A: The App runs on iOS and Android.
For iOS: iPhone XR (2018) and newer models are supported.
For Android: Flagship models from manufacturers released since 2018 and newer
(e.g., Google Pixel, Samsung Galaxy, OnePlus)
While the app may work on other phones, we can only guarantee full functionality and support for the devices listed above. This ensures all features run smoothly on supported devices.
Q: What language options are currently available when using the app?
A: Citizen Scientist is currently available in English (US/UK), Italian, Spanish, German, French, Portuguese, Mandarin, and Cantonese. The app uses your phone's default language, and you can easily adjust it in the app settings. We plan to add more language options in the future.
The App can be customised to accommodate additional languages as required by specific studies.
Data and privacy
Q: What kind of data can be collected by Citizen Scientist?
A: Citizen Scientist can collect two types of data: active and passive data.
Active data can be collected through the use of Ecological Momentary Assessments (EMA). This allows researchers to collect self-reported responses from participants, such as information about their mental wellbeing in the moment, check-ins throughout the day, or daily reflections.
Passive data can be collected automatically in the background utilising the sensors available in modern smartphones. This includes information about geolocation during assessments, daily step-count, sleeping patterns and additional data collected within the Apple Health or Google Fit app.
Q: Who reviews and approves the studies in Citizen Scientist?
All studies conducted through Citizen Scientist undergo an ethical review and will receive full ethical approval from their respective research authorities before they are made available to participants. Researchers follow strict guidelines to protect your privacy and the security of your data. For information about a specific study’s ethical approval, please refer to the Privacy Policy and information provided for that particular study.
Q: Is participation in any of the studies NOT anonymous?
This depends on the study a participant is joining. For some studies, the researchers do not ask participants for their name, email address or any other identifying information. In these studies, the researchers do not know who the participants are, and the data cannot be linked to individual participants. For other studies, the researchers require participants to provide identifying information, such as their name or email address. In these studies, the data can be linked to individual participants and therefore, participation is not anonymous. For further information, please see the Privacy Policy and information of each study.
For researchers
Q: Can I use Citizen Scientist for my own studies?
A: Yes, researchers can use the Citizen Scientist app for their own studies. To initiate this process, please contact Professor Andrea Mechelli at King’s College London (a.mechelli@kcl.ac.uk) for an initial conversation. During this discussion, we will explore your study’s requirements and how Citizen Scientist can be customised to meet your research goals.
Q: Is the Citizen Scientist app free for researchers?
A: We support other researchers who wish to use the Citizen Scientist app to collect research data for their studies. In exchange we ask for a contribution towards the running and development costs of the app through full cost recovery. This will help ensure the app is sustainable over time. The exact cost depends on several factors, such as complexity of the study, the types of data being collected, number of languages required and the duration of the research. After an initial conversation scoping, We will provide a detailed budget tailored to your study’s specific needs.
Q: How does Citizen Scientist benefit researchers?
A: Citizen Scientist is a customisable tool that allows researchers to collect both active and passive data from participants. Active data can include real-time self-reported experiences (e.g. mental wellbeing), while passive data, such as GPS location and additional health data, can be collected in the background. This helps researchers gain deeper insights into how people’s environments influence their mental health in real-world contexts.
For participants
Q: Is the Citizen Scientist app free for participants?
A: Yes, the app is completely free for participants. Once downloaded, participants can join any of the available studies at no cost.
Q: How does Citizen Scientist benefit participants?
A: For participants, specific studies within the app can offer personalised insights into their experiences and wellbeing. By contributing to real-time scientific research, participants also help create a better understanding of how certain environmental factors can affect mental health.
Q: What if I change my mind after joining a study?
A: You can withdraw from a study at any time by using the app’s settings to delete your data. Whether your data can be removed after the study is completed depends on the specific study. In some studies, researchers do not collect any identifying information (such as your name or email), meaning your data cannot be linked to you and therefore cannot be removed once anonymised. In other studies where identifying information is collected, your data may be able to be removed upon request. Please refer to the Privacy Policy and information of the specific study for more details.
Question not listed here?
If you have any questions, please contact the project lead in writing or by e-mail:
Professor Andrea Mechelli
Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience
King’s College London
De Crespigny Park
London SE5 8AF, UK
Email: a.mechelli@kcl.ac.uk
Phone: +44 (0)20 7848 0289