Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40100874›Full record

ArticlePloS one2025

Bipolar vs. unipolar scaling in dynamic network analyses of Ecological Momentary Assessment data.

Arwin Nemani, Bettina Hufschmidt, Viktoria Kohl, Lucie Sendig, Mareike Ebert, Desiree Bonarius, Stefan G Hofmann, Ulrich Stangier

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In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Arwin NemaniDepartment of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.ORCID 0009-0006-9707-8614
Bettina HufschmidtDepartment of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
Viktoria KohlDepartment of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
Lucie SendigDepartment of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
Mareike EbertDepartment of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
Desiree BonariusDepartment of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
Stefan G HofmannDepartment of Psychology, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany.ORCID 0000-0002-3548-9681
Ulrich StangierDepartment of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

This study examined the statistical and clinical benefits of using bipolar versus unipolar scaling in dynamic network analysis of Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) data.

methodsForty-seven students completed EMA reports three times daily for five weeks via either unipolar (n = 24) or bipolar (n = 23) scales. The data were analyzed to construct idiographic network models.

resultsThe bipolar scaling group presented significantly lower zero inflation (2.37% vs. 10.31%, U = 2407756, r = 0.75, p < .05) and greater response variability. Network analysis revealed more participants with significant network edges in the bipolar group (69.57% vs. 41.67%, χ²(1) = 12.06, p = .0007). Additionally, the bipolar group had lower odds of zero responses than the unipolar group did (p = .038).

conclusionBipolar scaling enhances EMA data quality by reducing zero inflation and increasing variability, resulting in richer dynamic network models. Further research is needed to confirm these findings in clinical populations.

Indexed as

Bipolar DisorderEcological Momentary AssessmentAdolescentAdultFemaleHumansMaleYoung Adult

Identifiers

PMID40100874
PMCPMC11918371

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.