For Researchers: Using the Pebbles App in Research Projects
As a researcher, you can use the Pebbles App in a variety of ways within your scientific projects. You can either request access to the existing overall dataset or integrate the app directly into your own studies – for example, by making it available to families participating in your study.
The Pebbles App is a digital diary in which parents and other caregivers can document the development of their children aged 0 to 6 years. While families benefit from scientifically grounded insights and information about child development, researchers gain access to high-resolution, real-life data collected continuously and directly within the children’s everyday environments. The app collects data in the following areas:
- Motor Skills
- Cognition
- Social-Emotional Development
- Language
- Demographics
If you are interested in collaborating, you can contact us via e-mail: pebbles@psychologie.uzh.ch
FAQ
How can the Pebbles App be used for my research?
The Pebbles App is flexible and can be integrated into various research contexts:
- Independent Data Collection: The app can be used as a primary tool for studying child development. Researchers get access to data from the participants they recruit themselves and can manage them via a web-based backend.
- Supplementing Existing Studies: The app can be used alongside traditional methods like questionnaires, interviews, or experimental studies. Researchers in this case also receive data from participants they recruited themselves. The app data can be linked with other research data using project-specific keys.
- Using the Overall Dataset: On request, the fully anonymized overall dataset of the Pebbles App can be provided for research purposes. All personal information is removed, and individual families cannot be identified.
What is the time commitment for participating families?
The app is designed to be user-friendly and low burden, making it easy to integrate into families' daily routines. The effort for participating parents is intentionally kept low: entries consist of brief observational questions about the child’s development, which are easy to integrate into everyday routines. In our studies, we recommend that parents use the app about every two weeks for around 5 minutes. This allows for a long-term, everyday developmental record without overburdening families.
What kind of data is collected with the Pebbles App?
The app primarily collects information on the age of attainment of developmental milestones in cognition, motor skills, and language. It also includes standardized questionnaires on areas such as social-emotional development, as well as demographic questions about the family and child. A complete list of all items and instruments can be found on the Open Science Framework (OSF) website: https://osf.io/vwd3s/files/osfstorage
How is data security ensured and where is the data stored?
The Pebbles App is available for iOS and Android and is continuously maintained. All entered data is encrypted during transmission and stored securely on servers at the University of Zurich (UZH).
Researchers can use the app within their own studies. A project-specific key is stored on a separate backend, allowing participant identification but only if they have given explicit consent to participate in that specific study.
Additionally, the anonymized overall dataset can be made available for research purposes upon request. All personal information is completely removed to prevent identification of individual families.
Are there any costs associated with using the Pebbles App?
The use of the Pebbles App is completely free of charge for both parents and researchers.
Can the Pebbles App be extended with custom study content?
The Pebbles App is a standardized assessment tool developed based on developmental psychology research. Its content and structure cannot be customized. It is not possible to integrate additional custom questions.
How can I use the Pebbles App in my research or request a collaboration?
If you are interested in collaborating or would like to use the app for your own project, please contact us at: pebbles@psychologie.uzh.ch
After your inquiry, we will discuss the next steps with you. If you plan to work with your own participants, you will receive access to a backend, through which you can organize your study and manage your participants independently.
Alternatively, you can request access to the fully anonymized overall dataset of the Pebbles App.