Experience Sampling Method (ESM)

The Experience Sampling Method (ESM) is a research technique used to gather real-time data about people's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors as they go about their daily lives. Participants receive prompts at random times through devices like smartphones, asking them to record their current experience. This method helps researchers understand how people’s experiences change over time and in different situations, providing a detailed and accurate picture of everyday mental states and activities. ESM is valuable for studying phenomena that fluctuate throughout the day, offering insights that traditional surveys might miss.