Developing a mobile application for research: An interview with Alexandre Lemyre, Ph.D.
By Lydia Khaldoun
Master’s student in psychoeducation, University of Montreal, Canada | October 2023
This article first appeared in Traumag (Fall 2023), a magazine published by the Trauma Studies Center affiliated with the University of Montreal. Permission for republication was obtained from the magazine’s editors and from the author. The article was originally published in French and translated by Alexandre Lemyre, Ph.D.
A mobile application to help with nightmares
What are dreams and nightmares for? Alexandre Lemyre, a postdoctoral researcher at the Trauma Studies Center, addressed this question during his doctoral studies. His thesis involved developing and testing a new theory on the function of dreaming. According to this theory, dreams are influenced by our future-oriented concerns. When we anticipate an event, dreams would reproduce the feelings we expect to experience in response to that event. Thus, anticipating that an event will make us experience unpleasant feelings would increase the likelihood of our sleep being disturbed by nightmares.
Based on this theory, Alexandre Lemyre and his collaborators have created a mobile application to help adults who suffer from chronic nightmares. The idea is to get users to accept the limits of their control over the events they anticipate. To that end, the app offers strategies. To be considered effective, the effects of this application need to be scientifically tested in the future.
Why did you choose to use a digital tool?
Whether in research or practice, digital technology is a promising solution to a number of mental health issues. A first argument for the use of digital technology is that it helps to increase the accessibility of mental health services. In fact, the majority of people suffering from psychological difficulties do not receive the professional help they need. This is known as the “treatment gap”. Digital technology would therefore help reduce barriers to treatment, such as cost, distance, and the stigma associated with mental health. A second argument is that digital technology can be used to complement professional therapies. For example, the client’s core problem can be addressed in therapy, while a secondary problem, such as nightmares, could be addressed through a mobile app. A final argument, more related to research, is that digital technology makes it possible to collect and store data in real time.
What is there to consider before developing a mobile application?
While the use of a mobile application can be very promising in research, there are a number of factors to consider before embarking on such a project. Among other things, developing an application requires certain computer skills, particularly in programming languages. Researchers in the field of psychology who decide to use an application generally hire a programming firm to develop it. This first option is the most effective for obtaining a functional application, but the costs are high. An alternative for researchers is to use platforms that generate code with little or no programming skills (so-called “low-code” or “no-code” platforms). This is what Alexandre Lemyre chose to do. He developed the mobile application using the FlutterFlow platform. The advantage of this second option is that it is less expensive than the first. However, one drawback is the learning curve required to master the platform, especially if the application’s functionalities are complex. In this case, you may need help from other users of the same platform or hire the services of a programmer for these complex parts.
Another element to consider is where to host the research data. Since data is collected via the mobile application, the researcher must ensure that the information gathered is kept secure and confidential. In fact, researchers are often required to host their data in their home country.
What happens to the applications developed by researchers?
Mobile applications are usually downloaded from the App Store or Google Play Store. Many apps claiming to be beneficial to mental health can be found there, but the majority have not been scientifically validated. The lack of regulation means that researchers and app developers from the academic world have to compete with the private sector. Competition is such that scientifically validated applications are not automatically more popular than other applications. In fact, there are three main options open to researchers who want to make their applications accessible to the public:
1) Carry out promotional activities, for example, by contacting the relevant communities to advertise.
2) Enter into an agreement with their university to license the application to a company.
3) Become a scientific entrepreneur, which involves setting up a company and negotiating an agreement with the university to become the entrepreneur who exploits the application.
This means that the researcher-developer needs to think about what the application will become after the completion of the research, while considering the competition with the private sector. The application needs to be accessible to the target audience, but it must also stand out from other applications already available.
In short, digital technology is an interesting avenue for research. However, for researchers like Alexandre Lemyre who are interested in developing a mobile application, it is important to plan the application’s development and deployment carefully.
The content of this article was last updated on October 21, 2023
