Understanding Willingness to Share Smartphone-Sensor Data

Abstract

The growing smartphone penetration and the integration of smartphones into people’s everyday practices offer researchers opportunities to augment survey measurement with smartphone-sensor measurement or to replace self-reports. Potential benefits include lower measurement error, a widening of research questions, collection of in situ data, and a lowered respondent burden. However, privacy considerations and other concerns may lead to nonparticipation. To date, little is known about the mechanisms of willingness to share sensor data by the general population, and no evidence is available concerning the stability of willingness. The present study focuses on survey respondents’ willingness to share data collected using smartphone sensors (GPS, camera, and wearables) in a probability-based online panel of the general population of the Netherlands. A randomized experiment varied study sponsor, framing of the request, the emphasis on control over the data collection process, and assurance of privacy and confidentiality. Respondents were asked repeatedly about their willingness to share the data collected using smartphone sensors, with varying periods before the second request. Willingness to participate in sensor-based data collection varied by the type of sensor, study sponsor, order of the request, respondent’s familiarity with the device, previous experience with participating in research involving smartphone sensors, and privacy concerns. Willingness increased when respondents were asked repeatedly and varied by sensor and task. The timing of the repeated request, one month or six months after the initial request, did not have a significant effect on willingness.

Attitudes towards Participation in a Passive Data Collection Experiment

“…Struminskaya et al found similar results in their study [ 32 ], where they tested hypotheses comparing WTP for universities, statistical offices, and market research companies. They found that the WTP reported by respondents is significantly highest for universities, followed by statistical offices and finally for market research firms.…”

“…Trust in the institution collecting the data was found to be a key factor in the willingness to share data [ 21 , 31 , 32 ]. Several studies have examined the researching institution’s role on willingness to share passive data.…”

“…Another form of control, the ability to review and change recorded data, was present in Struminskaya et al’s survey. The corresponding indication in their survey was rather vague, and probably that is why they did not find a significant effect for it [ 32 ].…”

“…Keusch et al [ 21 ] found that a shorter experimental period (one month as opposed to six months) and monetary incentives increased willingness to participate in a study. As another incentive, Struminskaya et al [ 32 ] found that actual interest in the research topic (participants can receive feedback on research findings) is also a positive factor for increased level of participation.…”

Squats in Surveys: Investigating the Feasibility of, Compliance With, and Respondents' Performance on Fitness Tasks in Self-Administered Smartphone Surveys Using Acceleration Data

“…While hypothetical compliance refers to respondents' general disposition to participate in a task, observed compliance, in contrast, refers to respondents' actual participation in a task. Empirical findings indicate that respondents' hypothetical compliance tends to be higher than their observed compliance with a task ( 21 , 22 ). Following this relation between hypothetical and observed compliance, we address the following research question: Do hypothetical and observed compliance rates with fitness tasks in a self-administered smartphone survey differ from each other (RQ1)?…”