Tracking smartphone with mobile SMS technology as dietary data collection method: A case study in Lynge School.
Author
Koirala, Sagar
Term
4. term
Publication year
2015
Submitted on
2015-06-10
Abstract
Dette casestudie undersøger gennemførlighed og udfordringer ved at bruge smartphone‑tracking og mobil SMS‑teknologi til at indsamle kostdata blandt 7. og 9. klassetrin på Lynge Skole samt om tilgængeligheden af fastfood i skolens nærområde påvirker elevernes frokostvaner. Data blev indsamlet via et spørgeskema (socioøkonomiske forhold og spisevaner i frokostpausen), Wi‑Fi‑baseret tracking af elevers smartphones ved tre lokationer i skolens foodscape (skolens kantine, et supermarked og en pizzeria) og øjeblikkelige SMS‑spørgsmål udsendt via et webbaseret kontrolsystem; analyser blev gennemført i SPSS med korrelation og general linear model. De selvrapporterede data viste, at de fleste elever medbragte mad hjemmefra (66 %), 80 % spiste aldrig fra eksterne udsalgssteder, og 39 % købte i kantinen mindst 1–2 dage om ugen; 9. klasses drenge gik oftere ud for at købe pizza, mens 7. klasses elever oftere medbragte mad. Der var dog ingen signifikante korrelationer mellem spørgeskema, tracking og SMS, og konkrete uoverensstemmelser blev observeret (fx svar “mad hjemmefra”, men registreret nær supermarked eller pizzeria), hvilket peger på både tekniske og adfærdsmæssige usikkerheder. Praktiske og etiske forhold som afhængighed af Wi‑Fi, muligheden for at fravælge ved at slukke Wi‑Fi, håndtering af mobilnumre og potentiel fejlkilde i enhederne begrænsede datakvaliteten; studiet var tværsnitligt og havde lav svarprocent. Trods dette viser metoden potentiale som en lavbudget, realtids tilgang til at sammenholde “det, man siger” med “det, man gør”, og peger på behov for skolepolitik, der fremmer sundere kantinetilbud. Yderligere forskning er nødvendig for at validere og forbedre pålideligheden af tracking og SMS som metode i kostundersøgelser.
This case study examines the feasibility and challenges of using smartphone tracking and mobile SMS technology to collect dietary data among 7th and 9th graders at Lynge School, and whether the availability of fast food around the school influences students’ lunchtime choices. Data were gathered through a questionnaire (socioeconomic background and lunchtime eating patterns), Wi‑Fi–based tracking of students’ smartphones at three locations in the school foodscape (school canteen, a supermarket, and a pizzeria), and instant SMS prompts sent via a web control system; analyses used SPSS correlations and a general linear model. Self‑reports indicated that most students brought food from home (66%), 80% never ate from outside outlets, and 39% bought from the school canteen at least 1–2 days per week; 9th‑grade boys were more likely to go out for pizza, whereas 7th‑grade students more often brought food from home. However, no significant correlations were found between the questionnaire, tracking, and SMS data, and specific mismatches were observed (e.g., replies of “food from home” while being tracked at a supermarket or pizzeria), pointing to both technical and behavioral uncertainties. Practical and ethical issues—including dependence on Wi‑Fi, the ability to opt out by turning off Wi‑Fi, handling of mobile numbers, and potential device errors—limited data quality; the study was cross‑sectional with a low response rate. Despite these limitations, the approach shows promise as a low‑cost, real‑time method to compare “what people say” with “what they do,” and it highlights a need for school policies promoting healthier canteen options. Further research is needed to validate and improve the reliability of tracking and SMS as methods in dietary studies.
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