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Improving measurement in longitudinal studies of aging

This is the newest thematic area of NIMLAS, first introduced in 2025. This thematic area focuses on all issues related to methods for measuring and reducing measurement error in longitudinal studies of aging. Additional content will be forthcoming, along with opportunities to join this new working group.

NIMLAS activities and funding considerations in this thematic area will be heavily weighted toward critical directions for future research that have been identified in the working group meetings for this area. These can be found below.

Current Critical Directions for Future Research on Improving Measurement in Longitudinal Studies of Aging:

  • Measurement Error: What is the prevalence of measurement error unique to longitudinal studies (e.g., learning effects/conditioning), and what are the best methods for measuring and reducing this measurement error? Is the measurement error systematic or variable? What are the sources of reduced reliability in self-administered items on the web or using IVR technology?

  • Measuring Cognition: What are the best practices for obtaining the highest quality measures of cognition for different aging subpopulations?

  • Mode Effects and Cognition: What data collection modes are optimal for measuring cognition and which cognitive measures are optimal for which modes? How can researchers modify cognition measurement tools to best fit the mode? How can researchers adjust for mode effects when analyzing cognition?

  • Differential Effectiveness of Measurement: Are the instruments that we use to collect survey measures (or passive measures, using new measurement technologies) equally accepted, effective, and suitable for measuring different subpopulations, resulting in broad representation? Do we need different measurement instruments for different subgroups / languages, based on cognitive interviewing, pre-testing, knowledge of technology, etc.?

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