Find the right tool
You can use our tools to improve the way you do research and the reliability of your results.
Start with the question that describes your situation:- I’m deciding what to measure
- I’m looking for available outcome measurement instruments
- I want to select the most suitable outcome measurement instrument
- I’m conducting a study on measurement properties
- I’m conducting a systematic review of outcome measurement instruments
- I’m developing a Core Outcome Set
What are you working on?
We help you to find the right tool to improve the way you do research.
Throughout your research it is of utmost importance to define and understand your specific outcome(s) of interest. In other words, you should clearly define what you want to measure, i.e. the outcome or construct of interest. This outcome should be clearly defined, so you are able to select an appropriate outcome measurement instrument measuring the specific outcome, judge whether the items, task, observations or parameters of an outcome measurement instrument are relevant for the outcome, and whether the outcome is comprehensively covered by the items/task/observations/parameters.
Others should be able to understand what you want to measure. Just a word describing the outcome of interest may not be enough.
You are searching for overviews of which outcome measurement instruments are available to measure a specific construct; e.g. as input information when deciding on what to measure and how to measure it. Or you are searching for studies on the quality (i.e. measurement properties, such as reliability and validity) of a specific instrument, and need some help finding the appropriate studies. Different ways to find your information are available.
You are deciding on the most suitable outcome measurement instrument for your study. This decision should be based on the evidence of the quality of available outcome measures (i.e. reliability and validity), as well as on aspects of feasibility. A high-quality performed systematic review on outcome measures gives you a clear overview of all important aspects to make your choice.
You are conducting a study on measurement properties, or you are reporting a study on measurement properties.
In one article, one or more measurement properties can be described. The evaluation of each measurement property, however, requires different design requirements and statistical analysis.
You want to conduct a systematic review of outcome measurement instruments in which you want to provide an overview of all evidence of important quality aspects of outcome measurement instruments that all measure a specific outcome. Such reviews are extremely useful for selecting the most suitable outcome measurement instrument at the moment.
You want to develop a Core Outcome Set for use in your field and subsequently select outcome measurement instruments for each outcome.