Flashmobstudies: wetenschap in een flits

The flash mob method is a new way of conducting prospective research whereby relatively simple – but clinically relevant – questions can be answered in a short period of time. The design and intensity of the spirited action – the ‘flash’ – with which the research is initiated determines the size of the group – the ‘mob’ – of researchers who will collect research data, and therefore determine the size of the study population. The reach of a flash mob study differs from that of traditional studies and gives flash mob studies a special character. In this article we show how the flash mob method works, the opportunities that it presents, its limitations and the kinds of questions it is able to answer.

Conflict of interest and financial support: no conflicts of interest have been reported.