LINC: a framework for maintaining high-quality passive data in digital phenotyping studies

Achieving high-quality passive data in smartphone-based digital phenotyping studies remains a significant challenge in real-world settings where technical barriers and inconsistent user engagement limit continuous data collection. In response to the field's overreliance on imputation methods and model-based approaches, we present LINC, a framework of best practices that supports the collection of high-quality passive data in digital phenotyping research. LINC, which stands for Launch, Interact, Notify, and Correct, systematizes operational procedures across four domains: (a) device and app configuration, (b) participant engagement with the app, (c) real-time data monitoring, and (d) troubleshooting disruptions in passive data collection. Each component is accompanied by practical resources designed to facilitate implementation without requiring specialized technical expertise. To demonstrate feasibility, we applied the LINC framework to a large observational study (n = 373) examining social media use and youth mental health over a two-to three-week period. Our study, following this systematized approach, achieved a median GPS-based passive data quality of 0.92 (IQR: 0.59-0.98), with 75% of participants surpassing 0.59 and 25% exceeding 0.98. These results compare favorably to published benchmarks and demonstrate that it is feasible to achieve high-quality passive data in digital phenotyping research.