Table 2.
Application of the Youth Compendium of Physical Activities to common physical activity measurement methods
| Method | Questionnaire |
| Example | Three Day Physical Activity recall (3DPAR) |
| Description | • Includes seven activity categories (eating, work, afterschool and spare time hobbies, transportation, sleep and bathing, school, and physical activities and sports) • Each category lists 50 activities from which to select • Respondent lists activity and relative intensity (performed every half hour in light, moderate, hard, or very hard intensity) |
| How Used | • METy assigned to each activity • Summary score combines the duration and intensity of each activity performed over three days |
| Reference | R. Pate, Ross R, Dowda M, Trost SG, Sirard JR, 2003 |
| Method | Direct Observation |
| Example | System for Observing Play and Leisure Activity in Youth (SOPLAY) |
| Description | Directly observes physical activity and associated environmental characteristics in free play settings, such as recess |
| How Used | • Observers scan play areas and record the predominant type of activity (e.g., aerobics, volleyball, basketball) in specific areas using one of 16 codes, an activity category (sedentary, walking, or very active) and the duration of activity performed • Summary scores reflect the type, duration, and intensity category of activities observed • See compendium website for how to handle groups of children with overlapping age groups |
| Reference | T. McKenzie, Marshall SJ, Sallis JF, Conway TL, 2000 |
| Method | Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) |
| Example | Customized mobile data collection tool |
| Description | • Application uploaded to cell phone technology to message (beep) respondents for data entry • Beeps occur at varying frequencies throughout the day |
| How Used | • EMA query is a survey with four screens that identify the types of behaviors performed just before the beep occurred • A series of screens prompts the user to identify activity type (e.g., walking, running or jogging, weight lifting or strength training, using cardiovascular equipment, bicycling, or other activities) and body position (e.g., recline, sitting, standing, or moving). • METy values can be assigned to activities list to create a composite score (e.g., METy-minutes or minutes in moderate- or vigorous-intensity activity) |
| Reference | G. Dunton, Liao Y, Intille S, Wolch J, Pentz MA, 2011 |
| Method | Time Use Surveys / 24-hour Recalls |
| Example | Multimedia Activity Recall for Children and Adolescents (MARCA) |
| Description | • A computer-delivered use-of-time instrument • Recall of time spent in activities of >=5 minutes • Child selects time points (segments) during the day as an anchor (e.g., before, school, after school, or after dinner) • During each segment, child selects from activity from 7 activity categories (200 activities in all to choose from) |
| How Used | METy values for activity recall can be assigned to activities list to create a composite score, e.g., minutes engaged in moderate-to-vigorous activity or METy-minutes |
| Reference | K. Ridley, Olds TS, Hill A, 2006 |