Abstract:

Experience sampling is an effective method of collecting longitudinal data. As the advantages of this approach have gradually been recognized by social science researchers, its application in organizational behaviors has also increased. Nevertheless, Chinese scholars are still on the emergent stage in applying this method and thus, empirical studies in China adopting such method are so far limited. A content analysis on 26 empirical papers using the experience sampling method published in Journal of Applied Psychology over the last five years (2010~2014) offers a comprehensive understanding of the major characteristics of the method, including appropriate variables and research questions, sample size, incentive methods, data collections, and implementation process. The review provides an overview of the current application of experience sampling in organizational behavior research and directs future developments and applications of such method in the fields of organizational behavior and human resource management.

Key words: experience sampling, daily diary, trajectory, Journal of Applied Psychology (JAP)