The data has been modified from Park and Yoo&#8217;s study29. This work was supported by the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Korea and the National Research Foundation of KOREA (NRF = 2016S1A5A2A03927809).

<ol>
	<li>Srinivasan, S. S., Anderson, R., Ponnavolu, K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Customer+loyalty+in+e-commerce:+an+exploration+of+its+antecedents+and+consequences.">Customer loyalty in e-commerce: an exploration of its antecedents and consequences.</a> Journal of Retailing. 78 (1), 41-50 (2002).</li><li>Fiore, A. M., Lee, S. E., Kunz, G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Individual+differences,+motivations,+and+willingness+to+use+a+mass+customization+option+for+fashion+products.">Individual differences, motivations, and willingness to use a mass customization option for fashion products.</a> European Journal of Marketing. 38 (7), 835-849 (2004).</li><li>Pine, B. J., Gilmore, J. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> The Experience Economy: Work is Theater and Every Business a Stage. , (1999).</li><li>Yoo, J., Park, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+effects+of+e-mass+customization+on+consumer+perceived+value,+satisfaction,+and+loyalty+toward+luxury+brands.">The effects of e-mass customization on consumer perceived value, satisfaction, and loyalty toward luxury brands.</a> Journal of Business Research. 69 (12), 5775-5784 (2016).</li><li>Endo, S., Kincade, D. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Mass+customization+for+long-term+relationship+development:+why+consumers+purchase+mass+customized+products+again.">Mass customization for long-term relationship development: why consumers purchase mass customized products again.</a> Qualitative Market Research: An International Journal. 11 (3), 275-294 (2008).</li><li>Franke, N., Piller, F. T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Value+creation+by+toolkits+for+user+innovation+and+design:+the+case+of+the+watch+market.">Value creation by toolkits for user innovation and design: the case of the watch market.</a> The Journal of Product Innovation Management. 21 (6), 401-415 (2004).</li><li>Lavidge, R. J., Steiner, G. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+model+for+predictive+measurements+of+advertising+effectiveness.">A model for predictive measurements of advertising effectiveness.</a> Journal of Marketing. 25, 59-62 (1961).</li><li>Deci, E. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Intrinsic Motivation. , (1975).</li><li>Kim, H. W., Chan, H. C., Gupta, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Value-based+adoption+of+mobile+internet:+an+empirical+investigation.">Value-based adoption of mobile internet: an empirical investigation.</a> Decision Support System. 43 (1), 111-126 (2007).</li><li>Rogers, E. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Diffusion of Innovations, 4th Edition. , (1995).</li><li>Fiore, A. M., Lee, S. E., Kunz, G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Individual+differences,+motivations,+and+willingness+to+use+a+mass+customization+option+for+fashion+products.">Individual differences, motivations, and willingness to use a mass customization option for fashion products.</a> European Journal of Marketing. 38 (7), 835-849 (2004).</li><li>Franke, N., Piller, F. T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Key+research+issues+in+user+interaction+with+configuration+toolkits+in+a+mass+customization+system.">Key research issues in user interaction with configuration toolkits in a mass customization system.</a> International Journal of Technology Management. 26 (5/6), 578-599 (2003).</li><li>Grisaffe, D. B., Nguyen, H. P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Antecedents+of+emotional+attachment+to+brands.">Antecedents of emotional attachment to brands.</a> Journal of Business Research. 64 (10), 1052-1059 (2011).</li><li>Lee, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Factors+influencing+the+adoption+of+internet+banking:+an+integration+of+TAM+and+TPB+with+perceived+risk+and+perceived+benefit.">Factors influencing the adoption of internet banking: an integration of TAM and TPB with perceived risk and perceived benefit.</a> Electronic Commerce Research and Applications. 8 (3), 130-141 (2009).</li><li>Pedeliento, G., Andreini, D., Bergamaschi, M., Salo, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Brand+and+product+attachment+in+an+industrial+context:+the+effects+on+brand+loyalty.">Brand and product attachment in an industrial context: the effects on brand loyalty.</a> Industrial Marketing Management. 53, 194-206 (2016).</li><li>Ilicic, J., Webster, C. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Effects+of+multiple+endorsements+and+consumer+celebrity+attachment+on+attitude+and+purchase+intention.">Effects of multiple endorsements and consumer celebrity attachment on attitude and purchase intention.</a> Australasian Marketing Journal. 19 (4), 230-237 (2011).</li><li>Koo, G. Y., Hardin, R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Difference+in+interrelationship+between+spectators&#8217;+motives+and+behavioral+intentions+based+on+emotional+attachment.">Difference in interrelationship between spectators&#8217; motives and behavioral intentions based on emotional attachment.</a> Sport Marketing Quarterly. 17 (1), (2008).</li><li>Kang, J. M., Kim, E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=e-Mass+customization+apparel+shopping:+effects+of+desire+for+unique+consumer+products+and+perceived+risk+on+purchase+intentions.">e-Mass customization apparel shopping: effects of desire for unique consumer products and perceived risk on purchase intentions.</a> International Journal of Fashion Design, Technology and Education. 5 (2), 91-103 (2012).</li><li>Kim, J. B., Rhee, D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+relationship+between+psychic+distance+and+foreign+direct+investment+decisions:+a+Korean+study.">The relationship between psychic distance and foreign direct investment decisions: a Korean study.</a> International Journal of Management. 18 (3), 286-293 (2001).</li><li>Simonson, I. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Determinants+of+customers'+responses+to+customized+offers:+conceptual+framework+and+research+propositions.">Determinants of customers' responses to customized offers: conceptual framework and research propositions.</a> Journal of Marketing. 69 (1), 32-45 (2005).</li><li>Iacobucci, D., Posavac, S. S., Kardes, F. R., Schneider, M. J., Popovich, D. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Toward+a+more+nuanced+understanding+of+the+statistical+properties+of+a+median+split.">Toward a more nuanced understanding of the statistical properties of a median split.</a> Journal of Consumer Psychology. 25 (4), 652-665 (2015).</li><li>Steenkamp, J. B. E. M., Baumgartner, H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Assessing+measurement+invariance+in+cross-national+consumer+research.">Assessing measurement invariance in cross-national consumer research.</a> Journal of Consumer Research. 25 (1), 78-90 (1998).</li><li>Bollen, K. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Structural Equation with Latent Variables. , (1989).</li><li>Sass, D. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Testing+measurement+invariance+and+comparing+latent+factor+means+within+a+confirmatory+factor+analysis+framework.">Testing measurement invariance and comparing latent factor means within a confirmatory factor analysis framework.</a> Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment. 29 (4), 347-363 (2011).</li><li>Hong, S., Malik, M. L., Lee, M. K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Testing+configural,+metric,+scalar,+and+latent+mean+invariance+across+genders+in+sociotropy+and+autonomy+using+a+non-western+sample.">Testing configural, metric, scalar, and latent mean invariance across genders in sociotropy and autonomy using a non-western sample.</a> Educational and Psychological Measurement. 63 (4), 636-654 (2003).</li><li>Park, M., Yoo, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Benefits+of+mass+customized+products:+moderating+role+of+product+involvement+and+fashion+innovativeness.">Benefits of mass customized products: moderating role of product involvement and fashion innovativeness.</a> Heliyon. 4, 00537 (2018).</li><li>Neuman, W. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Social Research Methods: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches, 6th Edition. , (2006).</li><li>Kim, J. H., Jang, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+scenario-based+experiment+and+a+field+study:+a+comparative+examination+for+service+failure+and+recovery.">A scenario-based experiment and a field study: a comparative examination for service failure and recovery.</a> International Journal of Hospitality Management. 41, 125-132 (2014).</li><li>Hancock, G. R., Lawrence, F. R., Nevitt, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Type+I+error+and+power+of+latent+mean+methods+and+MANOVA+in+factorial+invariant+and+noninvariant+latent+variable+systems.">Type I error and power of latent mean methods and MANOVA in factorial invariant and noninvariant latent variable systems.</a> Structural Equation Modeling. 7 (4), 534-556 (2000).</li></ol>

The authors have nothing to disclose.

Implications of findings 
The findings of this study reveal that consumers&#8217; extrinsic and intrinsic benefits derived from creating a mass customized product help the growth of emotional attachment to the product, creation of positive attitudes toward the customization program, and increased loyalty intentions. The findings on the moderating effects of fashion innovativeness reveal that when compared to consumers in a low fashion innovativeness group, those in a high fashion innovativeness grou...

Mass customization refers to the ability of an e-retailer to tailor products, services, and the transactional environment to individual customers1. Today&rsquo;s consumers are not satisfied with standard products, and many retailers have recognized this. Offering a mass customization option is one method to obtain customer loyalty and competitive advantages2. Mass customization as a marketing tactic allows consumers to create their own products based on particular needs and thus provides individualized products or services3. For example, consumers can not only purchase a pair of shoes that are mass produced, but they can also create a new and unique pair of shoes that are not available on regular retail websites by choosing the color, fabric, and other design components. As a result, consumers can purchase more favorable products, and their satisfaction with the customized product as well as brand loyalty increase4,5.
With increasing use of the internet, the mass customization process has become more rapid and efficient in terms of lowering production time and providing more design options with the same costs. Furthermore, retailers can obtain information regarding what their target customers prefer and thus build strong relationships with them6,7. As such, many industries (i.e., apparel, shoes, cars, and computers) have adopted customization programs. Although mass customization benefits both consumers and retailers, some retailers face challenges8. Therefore, there is a need to examine how consumers perceive benefits and how these benefits influence other shopping responses for long-term success.
Drawing on the hierarchy of effects (HOE) model from persuasion theories9, this study proposes that consumers process information based on cognition-affect-conation sequence. Specifically, this study examines (after creating a mass-customized product) whether perceived consumer benefits (cognition) influence loyalty intentions (conation) through product attachment and the attitude towards a mass customization program (affect). Based on motivation theory10, perceived benefits are divided into extrinsic and intrinsic benefits11.
Extrinsic benefit pertains to a consumer&rsquo;s perceived value derived from using a product12 (thus, close in value to the product quality11), whereas intrinsic benefit indicates a pleasant experience when using a product11. In a mass customization context, extrinsic benefit is associated with the product a consumer creates, and intrinsic benefit is related to the customization experience that satisfies hedonic and experiential needs13,14. Prior research has found that consumers&rsquo; perceived benefits enhance emotional product attachment15 and positive attitudes toward a mass customization program16. Emotional product attachment refers to an emotional tie that consumers connect to a product17, which positively influences attitudes toward the customization program18 and loyalty intentions19. Furthermore, attitudes toward a customization program positively influence loyalty intentions20.
Lastly, this study examines how an individual characteristic (i.e., fashion innovativeness) influences consumer responses differently. Fashion innovativeness refers to the degree to which an individual&rsquo;s innovative tendency influences adoption of a new fashion item21. Research findings show that consumers who desire to avoid conformity (i.e., highly fashion innovative consumers) are motivated to acquire unique products, indicating that mass customization may be an effective tactic to differentiate themselves from others22. Therefore, this study assumes that a greater number of positive responses will be generated for highly fashion innovative consumers.
Based on previous literature reviews, this study addresses the following research hypotheses. H1: Perceived benefits (a: extrinsic benefit, b: intrinsic benefit) of a mass customized product will positively influence emotional product attachment; H2: Perceived benefits (a: extrinsic benefit, b: intrinsic benefit) of a mass customized product will positively influence attitudes toward a mass customization program; H3: Emotional product attachment will positively influence attitudes toward a mass customization program; H4: Emotional product attachment will positively influence loyalty intentions; H5: Attitude toward a mass customization program will positively influence loyalty intentions; and H6: Compared to low fashion innovativeness, high fashion innovators will have more positive responses to (a) perceived benefits, (b) emotional product attachment, (c) attitudes, and (d) behavioral intentions.
To enhance external validity, this study uses an existing mass customization program. Potential participants in South Korea are recruited for this study and are asked to create their own trench coats using a program as if they had actually purchased the product. To explore the participants&rsquo; responses based on their customizing experiences, this study uses an online survey. Participants can access the questionnaire immediately after using the customization program online. After collecting data, the study uses single-group SEM to investigate the effects of consumer benefits on product attachment, attitude, and loyalty intentions. To examine the moderating roles of fashion innovativeness, the study uses LMAs.

<table><tbody><tr><td>SPSS AMOS 22</td><td>IBM Corporation, Data Solution Inc.</td><td></td><td>used for confirmatory factor analyses, structural equation modeling analyses, and latent means analyses</td></tr></tbody></table>

applying an emass customization program as a research tool to evaluate consumer benefits

As many scholars and practitioners study personalization and relationship marketing, it is important to provide personalization such as mass customization through marketing technology. The purpose of this study is to examine how to conduct consumer research using an online survey and analysis of data. This study examines consumers&#39;&#160;perceived benefits while customizing a product as well as emotional product attachment, attitudes toward a customization program, and loyalty intentions in the context of online retailing. In addition, this study investigates how consumer responses are different based on individual characteristics such as fashion innovativeness. An online survey company in South Korea recruited 290 female apparel shoppers who purchased apparel online. To enhance external validity, this study used an existing retail website with a well-established mass customization program. After completing the customization program, participants complete the online questionnaire. Structural equation modeling (SEM) and latent mean analyses (LMAs) are then performed for analyses. This study stresses the importance of testing measurement invariance for mean comparisons. Before the SEM and LMA, this study follows the hierarchy of invariance tests (configural invariance test, metric invariance test, and scalar invariance test), which are not considered by traditional approaches such as ANOVA. These statistical analyses provide applicability of the invariance test procedures and LMA to consumer behaviors. The conclusions of mean differences have integrity and validity because they are guided by a sophisticated statistical procedure to ensure measurement invariance.

Frequency statistics offered characteristics of the sample. A total of 290 female online consumers completed the shopping process using the e-mass customization program. The demographic characteristics of the sample were evenly distributed. By age group, 23.1% were in their twenties, 28.3% in their thirties, 26.6% in their fourties, and 22.1% in their fifties. By marital status, 58.3% were married, while 40% were single. By occupation, 45.2% were office workers, 22.8% were housewives, 10.3% were professionals, 9.3% were ...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Applying an eMASS Customization Program as a Research Tool to Evaluate Consumer Benefits at JoVE.com

Applying an eMASS Customization Program as a Research Tool to Evaluate Consumer Benefits

Presented here is a protocol to examine consumer responses toward mass customization in the context of online retailing. The protocol details the online survey procedure and how to analyze data using structural equation modeling and group differences using latent mean analyses.

As many scholars and practitioners study personalization and relationship marketing, it is important to provide personalization such as mass customization ...

applying-an-emass-customization-program-as-research-tool-to-evaluate

Research

Education

JoVE Journal

JoVE Core

Statistics

Behavior

Unit 1

Measure of Central Tendency

SCIENTISTS IN ACTION

6.8K Views.  Ewha Womans University. Ons protocol vereist dat deelnemers massa-aanpassing ervaren voordat ze een enquête invullen en gebruikt de enquêtegegevens om de relaties tussen consumentenreacties te testen. Het protocol maakt het mogelijk consumentengegevens toe te passen op structurele vergelijkingsmodellering en latente middelenanalyse om geavanceerde statistische gegevens te verkrijgen en de geldigheid van het onderzoek te verhogen. Onze studie zal profiteren van onderzoek naar de effecten van retail- of marketingtec...

Video: Applying an eMASS Customization Program as a Research Tool to Evaluate Consumer Benefits

Protocol for Data Collection and Analysis Applied to Automated Facial Expression Analysis Technology and Temporal Analysis for Sensory Evaluation

We demonstrate a method for capturing emotional response to beverages and liquefied foods in a sensory evaluation laboratory using automated facial expression analysis (AFEA) software. Additionally, we demonstrate a method for extracting relevant emotional data output and plotting the emotional response of a population over a specified time frame. By time pairing each participant's treatment response to a control stimulus (baseline), the overall emotional response over time and across multiple participants can be quantified. AFEA is a prospective analytical tool for assessing unbiased response to food and beverages. At present, most research has mainly focused on beverages. Methodologies and analyses have not yet been standardized for the application of AFEA to beverages and foods; however, a consistent standard methodology is needed. Optimizing video capture procedures and resulting video quality aids in a successful collection of emotional response to foods. Furthermore, the methodology of data analysis is novel for extracting the pertinent data relevant to the emotional response. The combinations of video capture optimization and data analysis will aid in standardizing the protocol for automated facial expression analysis and interpretation of emotional response data.

A protocol for capturing and statistically analyzing emotional response of a population to beverages and liquefied foods in a sensory evaluation laboratory using automated facial expression analysis software is described.

We demonstrate a method for capturing emotional response to beverages and liquefied foods in a sensory evaluation laboratory using automated facial ...

Using a Virtual Store As a Research Tool to Investigate Consumer In-store Behavior

People&#39;s responses to products and/or choice environments are crucial to understanding in-store consumer behaviors. Currently, there are various approaches (e.g., surveys or laboratory settings) to study in-store behaviors, but the external validity of these is limited by their poor capability to resemble realistic choice environments. In addition, building a real store to meet experimental conditions while controlling for undesirable effects is costly and highly difficult. A virtual store developed by virtual reality techniques potentially transcends these limitations by offering the simulation of a 3D virtual store environment in a realistic, flexible, and cost-efficient way. In particular, a virtual store interactively allows consumers (participants) to experience and interact with objects in a tightly controlled yet realistic setting. This paper presents the key elements of using a desktop virtual store to study in-store consumer behavior. Descriptions of the protocol steps to: 1) build the experimental store, 2) prepare the data management program, 3) run the virtual store experiment, and 4) organize and export data from the data management program are presented. The virtual store enables participants to navigate through the store, choose a product from alternatives, and select or return products. Moreover, consumer-related shopping behaviors (e.g., shopping time, walking speed, and number and type of products examined and bought) can also be collected. The protocol is illustrated with an example of a store layout experiment showing that shelf length and shelf orientation influence shopping- and movement-related behaviors. This demonstrates that the use of a virtual store facilitates the study of consumer responses. The virtual store can be especially helpful when examining factors that are costly or difficult to change in real life (e.g., overall store layout), products that are not presently available in the market, and routinized behaviors in familiar environments.

This paper describes the use of a desktop virtual store to create virtual shopping environments to investigate in-store consumer behavior. A description of the protocol to build and run experiments, example results from an experiment concerning store layout, and important considerations when conducting virtual store experiments are presented.

People&#39;s responses to products and/or choice environments are crucial to understanding in-store consumer behaviors. Currently, there are various ...

A Community-based Stress Management Program: Using Wearable Devices to Assess Whole Body Physiological Responses in Non-laboratory Settings

A pragmatic breath-based intervention to benefit human performance and stress management is timely and valuable to individuals seeking holistic approaches for emotional regulation and optimizing compensatory reserve mechanisms. This protocol is designed to not only teach mind-body awareness but also to provide feedback utilizing physiological data and survey results. The primary findings of this study showed that heart coherence and alpha variables were significantly correlated after four weeks of the breath-based meditation stress protocol. Meditation and rhythmic breathing produced significant increases in alpha brain activity. These brain physiological responses conformed to the Pleth Variability Index (PVI) changes, suggesting the ability of the human body to enter into a meditative state and effectively manage stress. When assessed after four weeks of daily practicing the techniques employed in the stress management protocol, based on the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire, subjects improved in applying mindfulness skills. The overall mindfulness score, Pleth variability index (PVI), and perfusion index (PI) increased after the 4-week intervention period. Results from electroencephalography (brain waves) were consistent with a meditative state during the post-study follow-up session. This provides evidence that wearable devices are feasible for data collection during a breath-based stress management intervention. This protocol can be easily and efficiently implemented into any study design in which physiological data are desired in a non-laboratory-based setting.

Stress is an unavoidable and persistent component of life and holistic approaches for its management are being considered. A standardized methodology was created to demonstrate the feasibility of a breath-based stress management protocol that can be used with commercially available portable technology.

A pragmatic breath-based intervention to benefit human performance and stress management is timely and valuable to individuals seeking holistic approaches ...

An Application for Pairing with Wearable Devices to Monitor Personal Health Status

The current protocol aims to showcase the technology integration, providing a detailed description of adopting the HealthCloud app, developed by the Healthy Landscape and Healthy People Lab, National Taiwan University (HLHP-NTU), on smartphones and smartwatches to collect data on users' real-time psychological and physiological responses and environmental information. A flexible and integrated research method was proposed because it can be difficult to measure multi-dimensional aspects of personal data in on-site studies in landscape and outdoor recreation research. An on-site study conducted in 2020 at the National Taiwan University campus was used as an application example. A dataset of 385 participants was used after excluding invalid samples. During the experiment, participants were asked to walk around campus for 30 min when their heart rate and psychological-scale items were measured, together with several environmental metrics. This work aimed to provide a possible solution to help on-site studies track real-time human responses that match ambient factors. Due to the app's flexibility, its use on wearable devices shows excellent potential for multidisciplinary research studies.

The present protocol introduces a non-commercial self-developed application for collecting real-time on-site data, including psychological scales, GPS location, heart rate, and blood-oxygen saturation level, as well as the application's operating procedures. An empirical study conducted in Taiwan in 2020 was used as an application example.

The current protocol aims to showcase the technology integration, providing a detailed description of adopting the HealthCloud app, developed by the ...

Environment

A Cross-Disciplinary and Multi-Modal Experimental Design for Studying Near-Real-Time Authentic Examination Experiences

Over the past ten years, research into students&#39; emotions in educational environments has increased. Although researchers have called for more studies that rely on objective measures of emotional experience, limitations on utilizing multi-modal data sources exist. Studies of emotion and emotional regulation in classrooms traditionally rely on survey instruments, experience-sampling, artifacts, interviews, or observational procedures. These methods, while valuable, are mainly&#160;dependent on participant or observer subjectivity and is limited in its authentic measurement of students&#39; real-time performance to a classroom activity or task. The latter, in particular, poses a stumbling block to many scholars seeking to objectively measure emotions and other related measures in the classroom, in real-time.
The purpose of this work is to present a protocol to experimentally study students&#39; real-time responses to exam experiences during an authentic assessment situation. For this, a team of educational psychologists, engineers, and engineering education researchers designed an experimental protocol that retained the limits required for accurate physiological sensor measurement, best-practices of salivary collection, and an authentic testing environment. In particular, existing studies that rely on physiological sensors are conducted in experimental environments that are disconnected from educational settings (e.g., Trier Stress Test), detached in time (e.g., before or after a task), or introduce analysis error (e.g., use of sensors in environments where students are likely to move). This limits our understanding of students&#39; real-time responses to classroom activities and tasks. Furthermore, recent research has called for more considerations to be covered around issues of recruitment, replicability, validity, setups, data cleaning, preliminary analysis, and particular&#160;circumstances (e.g., adding a variable in the experimental design) in academic emotions research that relies on multi-modal approaches.

An experimental design was developed to investigate the real-time influences of an examination experience to assess the emotional realities students experience in higher education settings and tasks. This design is the result of a cross-disciplinary (e.g., educational psychology, biology, physiology, engineering) and multi-modal (e.g., salivary markers, surveys, electrodermal sensor) approach.

Over the past ten years, research into students&#39; emotions in educational environments has increased. Although researchers have called for more studies ...

Concept Development and Use of an Automated Food Intake and Eating Behavior Assessment Method

The vast majority of dietary and eating behavior assessment methods are based on self-reports. They are burdensome and also prone to measurement errors. Recent technological innovations allow for the development of more accurate and precise dietary and eating behavior assessment tools that require less effort for both the user and the researcher. Therefore, a new sensor-based device to assess food intake and eating behavior was developed. The device is a regular dining tray equipped with a video camera and three separate built-in weighing stations. The weighing stations measure the weight of the bowl, plate, and drinking cup continuously over the course of a meal. The video camera positioned to the face records eating behavior characteristics (chews, bites), which are analyzed using artificial intelligence (AI)-based automatic facial expression software. The tray weight and the video data are transported at real-time to a personal computer (PC) using a wireless receiver. The outcomes of interest, such as the amount eaten, eating rate and bite size, can be calculated by subtracting the data of these measures at the timepoints of interest. The information obtained by the current version of the tray can be used for research purposes, an upgraded version of the device would also facilitate the provision of more personalized advice on dietary intake and eating behavior. Contrary to the conventional dietary assessment methods, this dietary assessment device measures food intake directly within a meal and is not dependent on memory or the portion size estimation. Ultimately, this device is therefore suited for daily main meal food intake and eating behavior measures. In the future, this technology based dietary assessment method can be linked to health applications or smart watches to obtain a complete overview of exercise, energy intake, and eating behavior.

This protocol shows and explains a new technology-based dietary assessment method. The method consists of a dining tray with multiple built-in weighing scales and a video camera. The device is unique in the sense that it incorporates automated measures of food and drink intake and eating behavior over the course of a meal.

The vast majority of dietary and eating behavior assessment methods are based on self-reports. They are burdensome and also prone to measurement errors. ...

Electroencephalographic, Heart Rate, and Galvanic Skin Response Assessment for an Advertising Perception Study: Application to Antismoking Public Service Announcements

The evaluation of advertising, products, and packaging is traditionally performed through methods based on self-reports and focus groups, but these approaches often appear poorly accurate in scientific terms. Neuroscience is increasingly applied to the investigation of the neurophysiological bases of the perception of and reaction to commercial stimuli to support traditional marketing methods. In this context, a particular sector or marketing is represented by public service announcements (PSAs). The objective of this protocol is to apply electroencephalography (EEG) and autonomic signal analysis to study responses to selected antismoking PSAs. Two EEG indices were employed: the frontal alpha band EEG asymmetry (the Approach Withdrawal (AW) index) and the frontal theta (effort index). Furthermore, the autonomic Emotional Index (EI) was calculated, as derived from the Galvanic Skin Response (GSR) and Heart Rate (HR) signals. The present protocol describes a series of operational and computational steps required to properly estimate, through the aforementioned indices, the emotional and cerebral reaction of a group of subjects towards a selected number of antismoking PSAs. In particular, a campaign characterized by a symbolic communication style (classified as "awarded" on the basis of the prizes received by specialized committees) obtained the highest approach values, as estimated by the AW index. A spot and an image belonging to the same PSA campaign based on the "fear arousing appeal" and with a narrative/experiential communication style (classified as "effective" on the basis of the economical/health-related improvements promoted) reported the lowest and highest effort values, respectively. This is probably due to the complexity of the storytelling (spot) and to the immediateness of the image (a lady who underwent a tracheotomy). Finally, the same "effective" campaign showed the highest EI values, possibly because of the empathy induced by the testimonial and the explicitness of the message.

The following protocol describes a series of operational and computational steps required to properly estimate the emotional and cerebral reaction of a group of subjects towards a selected number of Public Service Announcements (PSAs) against smoking, aired in the USA and Europe during the period between 1998 and 2015.

The evaluation of advertising, products, and packaging is traditionally performed through methods based on self-reports and focus groups, but these ...

Neuroscience

Setup of Consumer Wearable Devices for Exposure and Health Monitoring in Population Studies

Wearable sensors, which are often embedded in commercial smartwatches, allow for continuous and non-invasive health measurements and exposure assessments in clinical studies. Nevertheless, the real-life application of these technologies in studies involving a large number of participants for a significant observation period may be hindered by several practical challenges. 
In this study, we present a modified protocol from a previous intervention study for the mitigation of health effects from desert dust storms. The study involved two distinct population groups: asthmatic children aged 6-11 years and elderly patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Both groups were equipped with a smartwatch for the assessment of physical activity (using a heart rate monitor, pedometer, and accelerometer) and location (using GPS signals to locate individuals in indoor "at home" or outdoor microenvironments). The participants were required to wear the smartwatch equipped with a data collection application on a daily basis, and data were transmitted via a wireless network to a centrally administered data collection platform for the near real-time assessment of compliance. 
Over a period of 26 months, more than 250 children and 50 patients with AF participated in the aforementioned study. The main technical challenges identified included restricting access to standard smartwatch features, such as gaming, internet browser, camera, and audio recording applications, technical issues, such as loss of GPS signal, especially in indoor environments, and the internal smartwatch settings interfering with the data collection application.
The aim of this protocol is to demonstrate how the use of publicly available application lockers and device automation applications made it possible to address most of these challenges in a simple and cost-effective way. In addition, the inclusion of a Wi-Fi received signal strength indicator significantly improved indoor localization and largely minimized GPS signal misclassification. The implementation of these protocols during the roll-out of this intervention study in the spring of 2020 led to significantly improved results in terms of data completeness and data quality.

Commercial smartwatches equipped with wearable sensors are increasingly being used in population studies. However, their utility is often constrained by their limited battery duration, memory capacity, and data quality. This report provides examples of cost-effective solutions to real-life technical challenges encountered during studies involving asthmatic children and elderly cardiac patients.

Wearable sensors, which are often embedded in commercial smartwatches, allow for continuous and non-invasive health measurements and exposure assessments ...

Bioengineering

'Boden Food Plate': Novel Interactive Web-based Method for the Assessment of Dietary Intake

Different methods can be used in research to assess dietary intake, many of which are still paper-based. Written estimated food diaries are often utilized in clinical trials, despite being a burden for both study participants and researchers. This method requires participant literacy, it is time consuming, labor intensive, and can easily lead to under-reporting. With advancements in technology, there is a growing interest in electronic diaries that automate the dietary assessment process. These are focused on improving accuracy, reducing both time and cost and providing users with a visual and more enjoyable experience. The methodology presented here aimed to validate the &#39;Boden Food Plate&#39;, a novel web-based platform for self-recording of food and drink items, compared to a traditional estimated food diary. The application was also rated on a satisfaction scale by study participants using a paper-based questionnaire. Sixty-seven participants completed the dietary measures on both the three-day electronic and paper food diaries. For the analysis, only dietary data completed at both study time points (baseline and week six) was utilized. Despite small mean differences between dietary data collection methods, Bland Altman analysis showed fairly wide 95% limits of agreement between the electronic platform and the written estimated food diary and there were few cases which did not fall within the 95% confidence intervals. Overall, participants found the electronic food diary to be more fun than the paper method and as easy to use as hard copy diaries. The new platform has potential as a self-recording tool for the collection of dietary data, particularly when utilized in clinical trial settings. However, further validation studies are needed to improve the validity of this novel electronic dietary data collection tool.

The &#39;Boden Food Plate&#39; is an electronic food diary designed to be an interactive and fun method to collect dietary intake using visual depictions. The purpose of this study was to validate the web-based application against a traditional three-day estimated food diary method.

Different methods can be used in research to assess dietary intake, many of which are still paper-based. Written estimated food diaries are often utilized ...

Medicine

Mobile Device-assisted Dietary Ecological Momentary Assessments for the Evaluation of the Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet in a Continuous Manner

Mobile device-assisted dietary ecological momentary assessments (EMAs) have emerged as a new tool allowing the evaluation of dietary intake in real time, in a real-world setting and in a continuous manner. They have the potential to minimize recall bias, participant, and investigator burden, and decrease economic and time investment while maximizing ecological validity.
We developed a set of EMAs aimed at evaluating continuous adherence to the MedDiet. Four multiple-choice EMAs are sent daily in a randomized manner from a total of eight questions. The EMAs enquire about the consumption of 11 key food groups of the Mediterranean diet in the last 24-48 h in a semi-quantitative way. EMAs capture the daily frequency of consumption of fruits, vegetables, and extra virgin olive oil on different days of the week. Additionally, EMAs capture the weekly frequency of consumption of whole grain products, sugary drinks, nuts, legumes, sweets, fish and seafood, and red and processed meats. A designed scoring system behind the EMAs extracts the percentage of adherence to the MedDiet recommendations and calculates a quality index of the diet every week. Individualized reports are sent periodically to the volunteers highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of their diet. EMAs are also expected to have a behavioral effect, reinforcing the choice of Mediterranean foods.

Presented here is a study protocol aimed at monitoring continuous adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) by means of ecological momentary assessments. The method evaluates the intake of key food groups of the MedDiet and calculates an index of adherence.

Mobile device-assisted dietary ecological momentary assessments (EMAs) have emerged as a new tool allowing the evaluation of dietary intake in real time, ...

Applying an eMASS Customization Program as a Research Tool to Evaluate Consumer Benefits

Samenvatting

Meer video's verkennen