MEASURING MEASURING PHYSICAL ACTIVITYPHYSICAL ACTIVITY

Week 3Week 3

What you need to knowWhat you need to know

The difference between The difference between subjective and objective subjective and objective methodsmethods

What are: self-report, heart rate What are: self-report, heart rate telemetry, pedometry telemetry, pedometry accelerometry, observational accelerometry, observational tools?tools?

What are the advantages and What are the advantages and disadvantages of each method?disadvantages of each method?

IntroductionIntroduction

Why would the general population Why would the general population want to measure physical activity?want to measure physical activity?

It can be quite a difficult taskIt can be quite a difficult task There are a number of options to There are a number of options to

assess physical activityassess physical activity They are usually grouped as eitherThey are usually grouped as either

Subjective: our own perceptionsSubjective: our own perceptions Objective: solid data or observationsObjective: solid data or observations

Each method has a range of Each method has a range of advantages and disadvantagesadvantages and disadvantages

This includes practicality v. accuracyThis includes practicality v. accuracy

Subjective Methods of Subjective Methods of Measuring Physical ActivityMeasuring Physical Activity

Self report: Self report: DiaryDiary Log bookLog book Self-administered recallSelf-administered recall Interviewer-administered recallInterviewer-administered recall Proxy reportsProxy reports

ActivityActivity

Over the next week you are Over the next week you are required to keep a diary of all required to keep a diary of all the physical activity you the physical activity you participate inparticipate in

Think about the domains of Think about the domains of activity (occupational, activity (occupational, household, active transport, household, active transport, leisure)leisure)

Record information on F, I, D, TRecord information on F, I, D, T

Subjective Methods of Subjective Methods of Measuring Physical ActivityMeasuring Physical Activity AdvantagesAdvantages

Quick and easyQuick and easy Cost effectiveCost effective Suitable for Suitable for

individuals, individuals, small or large small or large groupsgroups

Can be Can be quantitative and quantitative and qualitativequalitative

DisadvantagesDisadvantages Reliability and Reliability and

validity validity problemsproblems

Relies on Relies on honestyhonesty

Not suitable for Not suitable for those with those with cognitive cognitive limitations limitations (young and (young and elderly)elderly)

Objective Methods of Objective Methods of Measuring Physical ActivityMeasuring Physical Activity

Heart rate telemetryHeart rate telemetry PedometryPedometry AccelerometryAccelerometry Observational toolsObservational tools

Heart Rate TelemetryHeart Rate Telemetry

Records ______ _____ Records ______ _____ ________ (bpm) on a watch and ________ (bpm) on a watch and can be transferred to a can be transferred to a computercomputer

There is a ___________ There is a ___________ between HR and energy between HR and energy expenditureexpenditure

Heart Rate TelemetryHeart Rate Telemetry

AdvantagesAdvantages Strong link to Strong link to

energy energy expenditureexpenditure

Low participant Low participant burdenburden

Clear in Clear in describing I, F, describing I, F, DD

Quick and easy Quick and easy data collectiondata collection

DisadvantagesDisadvantages Expensive for Expensive for

large numberslarge numbers Some Some

discomfortdiscomfort Restricted to Restricted to

aerobic aerobic activitiesactivities

Influenced by Influenced by other factors other factors (age, stress, (age, stress, emotions)emotions)

PedometryPedometry

Device that records the _______ Device that records the _______ of steps taken and estimates the of steps taken and estimates the stride length (distance) and stride length (distance) and energy expenditureenergy expenditure

Worn on the hipWorn on the hip Responds to vertical forcesResponds to vertical forces For health benefits you should For health benefits you should

be aiming for _______ be aiming for _______ steps/daysteps/day

PedometryPedometry

AdvantagesAdvantages In-expensiveIn-expensive Small, lightweight, Small, lightweight,

non-intrusivenon-intrusive Useful in a variety Useful in a variety

of settingsof settings Easy to administerEasy to administer Measures a Measures a

common activitycommon activity Immediate Immediate

feedbackfeedback Potential to Potential to

promote behaviour promote behaviour changechange

DisadvantagesDisadvantages Assesses only Assesses only

walkingwalking Cannot record F, I, Cannot record F, I,

DD Participant Participant

tamperingtampering Potential to be Potential to be

reactive reactive (participant (participant increases activity increases activity due to being due to being monitored)monitored)

AccelerometryAccelerometry

Motion sensors worn on the hip Motion sensors worn on the hip to assess the ___________ of to assess the ___________ of the body in certain directionsthe body in certain directions

Provides detail on F, I, DProvides detail on F, I, D Provides minute-by-minute dataProvides minute-by-minute data Detects movement ________Detects movement ________

AccelerometryAccelerometry

AdvantagesAdvantages Small, Small,

lightweight and lightweight and non-invasivenon-invasive

Clear in Clear in describing F, I, describing F, I, DD

Simple, quick Simple, quick data collectiondata collection

Records in real Records in real time (minute by time (minute by minute)minute)

DisadvantagesDisadvantages Expensive for Expensive for

large groupslarge groups Inaccurate Inaccurate

assessment of assessment of some activitiessome activities

Can’t specify T Can’t specify T of activityof activity

Observational ToolsObservational Tools

Watching people’s _________ Watching people’s _________ within specific settingswithin specific settings

Can collect data across a range Can collect data across a range of areas: F, I, D, Tof areas: F, I, D, T

A variety of methodsA variety of methods BEACHESBEACHES SOFITSOFIT SOPLAYSOPLAY

Observational ToolsObservational Tools

AdvantagesAdvantages Excellent Excellent

qualitative and qualitative and quantitative dataquantitative data

Specific physical Specific physical activity behaviours activity behaviours can be observedcan be observed

Useful in a variety Useful in a variety settingssettings

Easily combined Easily combined with software with software packagespackages

Can collect Can collect contextual contextual informationinformation

DisadvantagesDisadvantages Training needed Training needed

for observerfor observer Presence of Presence of

observer may bias observer may bias behaviourbehaviour

Highly labour Highly labour intensive and time intensive and time consumingconsuming

Summary of Methods of Summary of Methods of Measuring Physical ActivityMeasuring Physical Activity

Complete the Complete the summary tablesummary table