This paper contributes an intentionally naturalistic methodology using smartphone logging technology to study communications
in the wild. Smartphone logging can provide tremendous access to communications data from real environments. However,
researchers must consider how it is employed to preserve naturalistic behaviors. Nine considerations are presented to this
end. We also provide a description of a naturalistic logging approach that has been applied successfully to collecting mediated
communications from iPhones. The methodology was designed to intentionally decrease reactivity and resulted in data that were
more accurate than self-reports. Example analyses are also provided to show how data collected can be analyzed to establish
empirical patterns and identify user differences. Smartphone logging technologies offer flexible capabilities to enhance access to
real communications data, but methodologies employing these techniques must be designed appropriately to avoid provoking
naturally occurring behaviors. Functionally, this methodology can be applied to establish empirical patterns and test specific
hypotheses within the field of HCI research. Topically, this methodology can be applied to domains interested in understanding
mediated communications such as mobile content and systems design, teamwork, and social networks
