Accounting for Time Measurement Errors in Time Study Experiments

It is important for researchers to account for time measurement errors in time study experiments. This effect was studied in an experiment by the Goldman et al. study which managed measurement error in the imprecision of instruments and spatial variability, which was modeled over error types to check risk ratio estimate for per measurement unit and on a per interquartile range basis (Goldman et al. 61). The Goldman et al. study accounted for time measurement errors by identifying the three components of measurement error, such as differences in exposure to air pollution in the study by individuals monitored by that study. Large scale time series studies often use one central monitoring site, and one suggestion to improve time measurement errors is to utilize more than one monitoring site for an experiment to manage these errors.

Another way to account for time measurement errors in time measurement studies is to utilize the Guttman Scale, which is an appropriate statistical test for these variables, and according to the Tractenberg et al. study states that “for any set of items, there is a single hierarchy of endorsement, acquisition (or loss) or preference” (Tractenberg et al. 1). This means for ordered experiment sets of items, the Guttman Scale is useful to determine errors. If later identified items in the study are considered correct, then the earlier items in the study associated with these items are also assumed to be correct. Time errors, in this case, can be managed by accepting up to 10% variation or “misfit” and reviewing any estimating, fluctuating performance or reliability in data analysis for the measurement experiment (Tractenberg et al. 6). In conclusion, a researcher could use the Guttman scale and the monitoring of central monitoring sites to manage and account for the measurement errors in time study experiments.

Works Cited

Goldman, Gretchen, Mullholland, James, Russell, Armistead, Strickland, Matthew, Klein, Mitchel, Waller, Lance, and Tolbert, Paige. “Impact of exposure measurement error

In air pollution epidemiology: effect of error type in time-series studies.” Environmental Health: A Global Access Science Source 10.1 (2011): 61-71. Print.

Tractenberg, Rochelle, Yumoto, Futoshi, aisen, Paul, Kaye, Jeffrey, Mislevy, Robert. “Using the Guttman Scale to define and estimate measurement errors in items over time: the case of cognitive Decline and the meaning of “points lost.” PLoS ONE 7.2 (2012): 1-8. Print.