Abstract: The present review aims to introduce the role and implication of Experience Sampling Method (ESM) in the studies of emotion regulation. Dynamic nature of emotion and emotion development, naturalistic emotion evoked situation, and various contributions of emotion development require researchers to make further methodological considerations when conducting emotion and emotion development studies. ESM takes advantages in emotion regulation research for several reasons: firstly, continuous and repeated assessment of momentary emotional events and relevant variables at regular frequent intervals throughout a relatively long period make it less susceptible to memory bias and implicit emotional attitude; secondly, experience sampling method puts emotional events in real social settings, thus improving the ecological validity of the study; thirdly, researchers could conduct multilevel and multivariate statistical analysis of massive sampling data and fruitful information by using ESM. In conclusion, ESM will be used more and more with further studies of emotion and emotion regulation.

Key words: experience sampling method, emotion experience, emotion regulation, methodological considerations