Even with this resource, however, it can be challenging for users to choose the most appropriate measures for their work. To address this need, NCCOR began the Measures Registry User Guide project in 2015. Organized by the same four domains as the Measures Registry, the User Guides are designed to provide an overview of measurement, describe general principles of measurement selection, present case studies that walk users through the process of using the Measures Registry to select appropriate measures, and direct researchers and practitioners to additional resources and sources of useful information (Figure 1). The User Guides will help move the field forward by fostering more consistent use of measures, which will allow for standardization, meta-analyses, and synthesis.

Overview of the Physical Activity Environment Measures Registry User Guide

The overall goal of this User Guide is to help users of the NCCOR Measures Registry make informed decisions when selecting, processing, and interpreting measurement tools for physical activity environments. This Guide is not intended to be a comprehensive summary of all measures, an evaluation of the measures, or a compilation of research using the measures. Instead, it fills a different niche by emphasizing the measurement issues that should be considered when selecting and using physical activity environment measures for research and practice purposes. This User Guide offers examples and tips for navigating the Measures Registry.

Organization of this User Guide

This Guide provides an orientation to physical activity environment assessment methods, by setting, and discusses considerations for selecting and using measures. It is designed to be useful for both researchers and practitioners, and includes case studies that show how both audiences can apply these considerations in practice.

In addition to this Introduction, this User Guide includes the following sections:

Section 2. Assessing and Defining Physical Activity Environments

provides a rationale for assessing physical activity environments and defines the key physical activity environment settings. Understanding the nature of these environments and the existing evidence will help users identify the most appropriate measures for the settings they wish to study.

Section 3. Key Concepts in Physical Activity Environment Assessment

describes the various methods of physical activity environment measurement across settings and other key concepts to consider when selecting environmental measures.

Section 4. Evaluating Existing Measures

provides an overview of the key measurement properties to consider when selecting environmental measures, including terminology, distinction between reliability and validity, single- vs. multi-item measures, response scales, and sensitivity to change.

Section 5. Examples of Measures with Reliability and/or Validity Evidence

provides examples of commonly used measurement tools with relatively extensive evidence of reliability and/or validity for assessing environments in various settings.

Section 6. Selecting Measures

outlines the process of selecting appropriate measurement tools for the given study population and research or evaluation aims. Additional considerations, such as resources required for data collection and analysis, are discussed, as are suggestions for using the Measures Registry.

Section 7. Collecting and Reporting Data

outlines methods and resources for successful and reliable data collection, including identifying local expertise, training staff, and deriving variables from the raw data.

Section 8. Case Studies of Selecting Measures

use hypothetical study designs to illustrate decision making about measures based on the information in this Guide. Both practice- and research-based examples are given, as well as selection considerations depending on the project purpose, study population, and intended audience of the study.

Section 9. Future Considerations in Physical Activity Environment Assessment

highlights gaps in physical activity environment research and makes recommendations to facilitate continued advances in this field.

Section 10. Conclusion

Section 11. Additional Resources on Physical Activity Environment Measurement

highlights additional resources that supplement the information in this Guide.

References