Digital Wellbeing

Systematic Mobile App Review

How can researchers collect and analyze mobile app-store data systematically?

SMAR’s public interface with app-store tabs, keyword search, and research examples.
Studying mobile app stores at scale.Screenshot of the SMAR tool, SCU Human-Computer Interaction Lab, captured September 25, 2026.

Beta tool and methods research

Current work

Building tools and methods to systematically find, collect, and analyze mobile apps.

Current work includes searching app stores, collecting app information and reviews, studying review methods, and developing guidance with researchers.

Project overview reviewed Fall 2026.

Research tool

SMAR is a web-based tool for collecting and analyzing mobile app-store data. The project is supported by an NSF CRII award and undergraduate research funding. The team shared a poster and live demo at TETHICON on May 15, 2026.

TETHICON 2026 poster contributors

Johan Kou, Ella Jackson, Raphael Kusuma, Jeshwin Prince, Vedant Vivek Kandge, Rakshitha Srinivasa, and Kai Lukoff.

Support and recognition

  • · Research support

    NSF support for SMAR

    An NSF CRII award supports our tool and guidelines for researchers studying mobile app ecosystems. Kai Lukoff leads the project at Santa Clara University.

    NSF award 2348493