ABSTRACT
The past decade has seen a marked increase in the use of the Experience Sampling Method (ESM) in mental health research. This chapter acts as an introduction to the book, outlining some of the advantages of ESM, including the ability to capture fleeting or momentary phenomena, reduce retrospective recall bias, sensitively monitor symptom change, and generate insights into the instability of clinical constructs. The authors will use key examples from the mental health literature to illustrate the unique insights that ESM can bring. This chapter will provide readers with ideas for how to maximise the benefits of ESM in their own research.
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