Telegram

Telegram enables ambulatory assessment studies by delivering chatbot notifications via Telegram Messenger that link to external mobile survey software for real-time self-report data collection on iOS and Android smartphones.

Key Features:

• Cross-platform compatibility: Operates via Telegram Messenger on both iOS and Android smartphones.
• Implementation: Implemented in Python.
• Configurable settings: Bot settings are adjustable through a single JSON file, including parameters such as number of surveys per day.
• Notification scheduling: Sends notifications with links to brief surveys at predetermined times.
• Data collection channel: Collects responses through external mobile survey software rather than through Telegram itself.
• Participant requirements: Requires participants to have a smartphone, Telegram Messenger, and internet access.

Scientific Applications:

• Ambulatory assessment: Enables collection of in-situ self-report data during participants' daily lives.
• Psychology: Supports real-time measurement of psychological states and experiences in naturalistic settings.
• Behavioral science: Facilitates high-frequency repeated-measures studies of behavior.
• Health monitoring: Supports tracking of symptoms or health-related behaviors over time.

Methodology:

Participants subscribe to a Telegram chatbot that sends scheduled notifications with links to brief surveys; a Python script controlled by a single JSON file configures bot parameters (e.g., number of surveys per day); survey responses are collected via external mobile survey software rather than through Telegram.