Support for the coverage EMA: Participants can perceive and report discrete auditory event characteristics over 2 h...

Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) minimizes recall bias common in self-report, but variations like the "coverage model" reintroduce short-term recall, raising concerns about accuracy. This study evaluated the fidelity of ratings of characteristics of a discrete auditory event over a 2-h period, simulating coverage EMA, and examined the influence of objective event characteristics (intensity, duration, temporal location) on these ratings. In a remote experiment, participants (N = 741) watched a 2-h film containing one embedded thunder sound stimulus. A 2 × 2 × 3 between-subjects design manipulated stimulus intensity (high/low), duration (short/long), and temporal location (start/middle/end). Immediately after, participants completed coverage EMA-style ratings of perceived intensity, duration, and location. Participants' ratings generally reflected the manipulated objective characteristics; the main effects of intensity, duration, and location on their corresponding ratings were significant. Evidence supporting cross-characteristic influences were weak/anecdotal, and effect sizes were small. Approximately 25% of participants failed to accurately report the single event's occurrence; accurate detection was predicted by higher intensity, longer duration, and temporal location (p < .01). The results show that coverage EMA reports over a 2-h period can capture basic features of discrete events and demonstrate sensitivity to objective characteristics. They also exhibit certain reporting patterns that suggest potential influences between characteristics, although relatively weak effect sizes. Event detection sensitivity may also vary, particularly for less salient stimuli. These findings highlight the utility of coverage EMA while also emphasizing the need for researchers to consider how these patterns might operate within the context of their specific study goals.