The quantified self in health

Health problems and the accompanying costs (healthcare, social, economic) are an ever increasing problem. These developments, combined with new technological advancements ask for a new approach towards health. Mobile sensing technology offer opportunities to use continuous assessment of physiological and psychological states to create a new understanding of health and wellbeing. These technologies enable better diagnostics as well as the development of preventive measures. In this lecture series, the main focus will be the application of these mobile sensing technologies in practice (Quantified Self) as well as research context (Experience Sampling Methodology). The focus will be on five domains: Self-tracking in practice, , research methodologies using self-tracking self-tracking (e.g., Experience Sampling), the importance of context (e.g., physical context such as light exposure or social context) for health, ethical implications of these possibilities, and data handling. Students will follow lectures and workshops. The workshops include discussion, data analysis, and the design and execution of a QS study. Students will perform a QS study, of which the data will be analyzed and reported as part of assignment 1. In assignment 2, a critical essay will be written about a Quantified Self related topic.

At the end of the course, students should be able to:

• explain the Quantified Self approach and methodologies
• explain health concepts frequently studied with the Quantified Self approach
• explain the different types of mobile sensor technologies
• explain the different methods for analyses on a conceptual level
• apply Quantified Self methods in research and in practice
• apply (basic) analyses on Quantified Self data
• make a critical assessment of Quantified Self research designs and outcomes
• make a critical assessment of the advantages and disadvantages of self-tracking, including methodological and ethical considerations
• design and execute a Quantified Self study

You must meet one of the following collections of requirements

• Collection 1
• Completed Final examination Bsc program
• Collection 2
• Completed Pre-Master

• Mehl & Conner (2012) Handbook of Research Methods for Studying Daily Life
• Selected articles
• Stata http://www.dpc-software.nl/ (Stata Corp LP)