To create an engaging work atmosphere, the number of participants is limited to 50 attendees. If you wish to attend the workshop, there are two modes of participation:

1. The majority of workshop participants will actively contribute to the workshop by presenting their current research, which can also be work in progress. We offer two formats, i.e., research presentations (10 minutes for your presentation and 5 minutes for discussion) and “Challenges/Solution pitches” ). In the “Challenge/Solution Pitch” format, participants present and discuss solutions to challenges in collecting user-centered longitudinal data, pitch their ideas in 3-minute presentations, and engage in small group discussions on feasibility, extensions, limitations, and research designs.
2. We also offer limited spots for individuals who wish to attend as listeners only. However, when applying for a workshop spot, we ask you to briefly describe how your workshop attendance will benefit your current research.

Please note that we will share your submissions with all participants before the workshop.

To apply for the workshop, please send your abstract (max. 300 words) to our abstract submission form.

After online platforms have largely shut down their APIs, social scientists working with digital behavioral data increasingly rely on user-centered data collection approaches. In contrast to platform-centered approaches researchers recruit participants and get their informed consent for the collection of (intensive-) longitudinal data, for instance, via mobile devices or web tracking. Especially when linked with surveys, the key advantage of these research designs is the ability to capture authentic, in-context user behavior as it naturally occurs, providing a richer and more nuanced understanding of user interactions, communication, cognitive and emotional processes.

While the advantages of user-centered data collections are evident, the software landscape to collect such data is fragmented and confusing. This event aims to take stock of the state-of-the-art and focuses on research using novel data collection tools. We want to systematically identify and discuss the technical, methodological, ethical, and empirical challenges when conducting mobile- and web tracking-based research. The workshop also highlights survey methodological challenges regarding participant recruitment, compliance over time, and panel maintenance.

The aims of this workshop are:

• Bringing together experts and interested scholars from various disciplines (computational social science, political science, communication science, psychology, sociology, and survey methodology) working with mobile designs and/or browser tracking data to discuss the advantages and pitfalls when collecting and working with user-centered digital behavioral data.
• Discussing the software landscape and (dis-)advantages of existing data collection tools for smartphones and web browsing behavior.
• The workshop will introduce three new services of GESIS that facilitate mobile data collection and browser tracking, namely the GESIS Panel.dbd, GESIS AppKit, and GESIS Web Tracking.
  • There will be the opportunity to engage with early adopters and the responsible persons at GESIS for these tools and services.
  • Interested scholars will have the opportunity to receive practical and “hands-on” information on the respective services.

We are looking forward to receiving your abstracts..

• Submission of abstracts

• August 30, 2024: Deadline for the submission of abstracts or applications from passive participants (and travel grants, if applicable)
• September 20, 2024: Notification of acceptance of presentations or passive participants
• November 1, 2024: Publication of the workshop program and forwarding of abstracts to workshop participants
• November 25, 2024: Workshop