Why is backend service needed?

The main purpose of a ResearchKit-based clinical research app is to collect and analyze the results generated in various tasks performed by users. For example, an asthma-related clinical study app might require the users to respond to a weekly survey on their condition. The researchers can then analyze the survey responses to discover trends and patterns. In order to collect, manage, and analyze the data, a backend service or server is needed. The ResearchKit framework does not provide such a backend service. It is solely the responsibility of the application to provide backend support.

A backend service can provide the following basic services to a ResearchKit app:

• User account creation and management

• Data collection, management, and analysis

• The anonymization of the collected data so that it can be shared with a larger research community

On top of the preceding basic services, it can also provide the following advanced services:

• The segmentation of users based...