Event-based analysis of free-living behaviour

Granat, MH

Abstract

The quantification of free-living physical activities is important in understanding how physical activity and sedentary behaviour impact on health and also on how interventions might modify free-living behaviour to enhance health. Quantification, and the terminology used, has in many ways been determined by the choice of measurement technique. The inter-related issues around measurement devices and terminology used are explored. This paper proposes a terminology and a systematic approach for the analysis of freeliving
activity information using event-based activity data. The event-based approach uses a flexible hierarchical classification of events and, dependent on the research question, analysis can then be undertaken on a selection of these events. The quantification of free-living behaviour is therefore the result of the analysis on the patterns of these chosen events. The application of this approach is illustrated with results from a range of published studies by our group showing how event-based analysis provides a flexible yet robust method of addressing the research question(s) and provides a deeper insight into freeliving behaviour. It is proposed that it is through event-based analysis we can more clearly understand how behaviour is related to health and also how we can produce more relevant outcome measures.

Citation

Granat, M. (2012). Event-based analysis of free-living behaviour. Physiological Measurement, 33(11), 1785-1800. https://doi.org/10.1088/0967-3334/33/11/1785

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Aug 29, 2012
• Publication Date: Oct 31, 2012
• Deposit Date: Nov 18, 2015
• Journal: Physiological Measurement
• Print ISSN: 0967-3334
• Electronic ISSN: 1361-6579
• Publisher: IOP Publishing
• Volume: 33
• Issue: 11
• Pages: 1785-1800
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1088/0967-3334/33/11/1785
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0967-3334/33/11/1785
• Related Public URLs: http://iopscience.iop.org/0967-3334