The feasibility of using video journaling to collect ecological momentary assessment data: application to health behavior change interventions

The purpose of this research was to evaluate the feasibility of an ecological momentary assessment (EMA) technique in a health behavior change intervention offered within university general health courses. A six-week health behavior change project was used with two groups: video journaling and traditional (pencil and paper) group. Research methodology employed was a quantitative, quasi-experimental, control and experimental group posttest comparison design. Stage of change data and program satisfaction surveys were collected from participants at a midsized southeastern university (n = 72; 36 video and 36 traditional). Participants were selected through non-probability, purposive sampling. Upon completion of the behavior change intervention 88.9 % (N = 32) of video journaling participants reported being in either the action or maintenance stage of change compared to 63.9 % (N = 23) of the traditional group. Significant difference was found between the video journaling and traditional groups in levels of satisfaction with the program (M = 3.96, SE = 0.79; M = 3.53, SE = .53 respectively; t = -2.74, p < 0.05). EMA techniques using video journaling to aid behavior change interventions among late adolescence showed promise with further research needed to focus on long-term effects of such interventions.