Wearables, EMA, and Real-world Measurement (WERM)
Are you designing or running a study using ambulatory methods such as ecological momentary assessment, daily diary, or wearable sensors such as smartwatches, smart rings, chest straps or patches? Our interdisciplinary faculty core provides study design and data collection consultation.
The Wearables, EMA, and Real-world Measurement (WERM) core offers study design consultation specific to research methods for collecting data outside of the lab, during participants’ daily lives. These are often referred to as “ambulatory assessment” or “intensive longitudinal” methods and span methods for psychological, behavioral, and physiological assessment in the real-world.
We currently provide consultation for the following methods:
- Ecological momentary assessment (EMA)
- Written, voice-recorded, and video-recorded daily diary
- Passive audio sampling using EAR and similar tools
- Actigraphy (sleep)
- Accelerometry and rest-activity rhythms
- Ambulatory cardiovascular monitoring
- Light exposure
- Chronobiology and circadian rhythm
- Temperature (environmental or skin)
Examples of topics on which we consult include the following:
- Choosing the right device(s) or software(s) for your study
- Determining the appropriate assessment duration and frequency
- Tailoring procedures to your patient population and their daily contexts
- Strategies for preventing and addressing non-adherence
- EMA question design and psychometrics
- Coding and processing of real-world audio data
- Integration of multiple ambulatory measures
- Framing ambulatory measurement for your grant
- Navigating ethics, privacy, the IRB, and OIT
We primarily consult with researchers during the grant-writing, design, piloting, and data collection stages of research. For biostatistical support, we refer to our colleagues in the Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Research Design (BERD) program, who have expertise in intensive longitudinal data analysis.
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