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Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) is a set of longitudinal methods that researchers can use to understand complex processes (e.g., health, behavior, emotion) in "high resolution." Although technology has made EMA data collection easier, concerns remain about the consistency and quality of data collected from participants who are enrolled and followed online. In this study, we used EMA data from a larger study on HIV-risk behavior among men who have sex with men (MSM) to explore whether several indicators of data consistency/quality differed across those who elected to enroll in-person and those enrolled online. One hundred MSM (age 18-54) completed a 30-day EMA study. Forty-five of these participants chose to enroll online. There were no statistically significant differences in response rates for any survey type (e.g., daily diary [DD], experience sampling [ES], event-contingent [EC]) across participants who enrolled in-person versus online. DD and ES survey response rates were consistent across the study and did not differ between groups. EC response rates fell sharply across the study, but this pattern was also consistent across groups. Participants' responses on the DD were generally consistent with a poststudy follow-up Timeline Followback (TLFB) with some underreporting on the TLFB, but this pattern was consistent across both groups. In this sample of well-educated, mostly White MSM recruited from urban areas, EMA data collected from participants followed online was as consistent, reliable, and valid as data collected from participants followed in-person. These findings yield important insights about best practices for EMA studies with cautions regarding generalizability. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

OBJECTIVE: “Just-in-time” (JIT) interventions delivered via smartphones have considerable potential for reducing HIV-risk behavior by providing pivotal support at key times prior to sex. However, these programs depend on a thorough understanding of when risk behavior is likely to occur to inform the timing of JITs. It is also critical to understand the most important momentary risk factors that may precede HIV-risk behavior, so that interventions can be designed to address them. Applying machine learning (ML) methods to ecological momentary assessment data on HIV-risk behaviors can help answer both questions. METHODS: Eighty HIV-negative men who have sex with men (MSM) who were not on PrEP completed a daily diary survey each morning and an experience sampling survey up to six times per day via a smartphone application for 30-days. RESULTS: Random forests models achieved the highest area under the curve (AUC) values for classifying high-risk condomless anal sex (CAS). These models achieved 80% specificity at a sensitivity value of 74%. Unsurprisingly, the most important contextual risk factors that aided in classification were participants’ plans and intentions for sex, sexual arousal, and positive affective states. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that survey data collected throughout the day can be used to correctly classify about four of every five high-risk CAS events, while incorrectly classifying one of every five days as involving high-risk CAS when no such event occurred. A unique set of risk factors also often emerge prior to high-risk CAS events that may be useful targets for JITs.

This article was published in International Journal of Fashion Studies on 01 April 2017 (online), available at https://doi.org/10.1386/infs.4.1.51_1

Background Geofencing offers new opportunities to study how specific environments affect alcohol use and related behavior. In this study, we examined the feasibility of using geofencing to examine social/environmental factors related to alcohol use and sexual perceptions in a sample of gay and bisexual men (GBM) who engage in heavy drinking and high-risk sex. Methods HIV-negative GBM (N = 76) completed ecological momentary assessments for 30 days via a smartphone application and were prompted to complete surveys when inside general geofences set around popular bars and clubs. A subset (N = 45) were also asked to complete surveys when inside personal geofences, which participants set themselves by identifying locations where they typically drank heavily. Results Approximately 49% of participants received a survey prompted by a general geofence. Among those who identified at least 1 personal drinking location, 62.2% received a personal geofence-prompted survey. Of the 175 total location-based surveys, 40.2% occurred when participants were not at the location that was intended to be captured. Participants reported being most able to openly express themselves at gay bars/clubs and private residences, but these locations were also more "sexualized" than general bars/clubs. Participants did not drink more heavily at gay bars/clubs, but did when in locations with more intoxicated patrons or guests. Conclusions Geofencing has the potential to improve the validity of studies exploring environmental influences on drinking. However, the high number of "false-positive" prompts we observed suggests that geofences should be used carefully until improvements in precision are more widely available.

Alcohol use is a key risk factor for HIV infection among MSM, in part because intoxication may interfere with the use of prevention methods like condoms. However, few studies have examined whether this is due to alcohol’s pharmacological or expectancy effects or explored the specific aspects of sexual decision-making that may be affected. In this study, high-risk, heavy drinking MSM (N = 121) were randomly assigned to receive either (1) alcohol beverages, (2) placebo beverages, or (3) control beverages, before navigating a video-based sexual risk scenario that assessed several aspects of sexual decision-making. Results showed that condom use intentions and negotiation behaviors were lower among alcohol and placebo participants compared with controls, but that few significant differences emerged between the alcohol and placebo groups. These findings contrast with similar past studies, and suggest that alcohol’s expectancy effects may play a role in sexual decision-making.

This paper examines the development of animal welfare in Scotland. Whilst the law developed in tandem with developments across nineteenth century Britain, the paper draws attention to the distinctive Scottish situation. By examining the development from disparate common law protections to the statutory interventions of the nineteenth century the paper charts that development, and begins to place it within nascent 'humanist' movements emerging around this time. The piece examines how the Scottish doctrinal law took a distinctive direction in decisions, and in particular considers contemporary opinion. The paper is the first to take a look at the particular Scottish development and opens up new avenues of research into the nineteenth century, and also frames developments in the modern law which I will pursue in future research.