TecHealth

A South Carolina SmartState Center

Invites you to

  TECH TUESDAY TALKS

Tuesday - January 22 - Noon
915 Greene Street, Discovery 1, Room 140

Understanding the Dynamics of Physical Activity Using Ecological Momentary Assessment Methods

Speaker: Jaclyn P. Maher, PhD
Assistant Professor of Kinesiology
Co-Director Physical Activity and Lifetime Wellness Lab
University of North Carolina Greensboro

Ecological momentary assessment is a real-time data capture methodology designed to repeatedly sample individuals’ current behaviors and experiences in naturalistic settings. Health behaviors such as physical activity are ideal to study using EMA methodology because such behavior should be performed on a frequent basis and should occur for extended periods of time—ideally across the entire lifespan. This presentation will demonstrate how EMA data can be used to improve our understanding of physical activity behavior by addressing questions related to synchronicity (i.e., the degree to which explanatory factors co-occur in time and space with behavior), sequentiality (i.e., temporal sequence of antecedents to and consequences of behavior), and instability (i.e., patterns of fluctuation and change in explanatory factors and behavior). The presentation will also briefly highlight methodological considerations and challenges associated with physical activity EMA research.

Tech Tuesday Talks is a free, monthly seminar series bringing together researchers from across the USC campus who share an interest in technology-assisted health promotion and disease prevention interventions and research.  The series presents a forum to learn about one another’s work, spark collaborations, as well as introduce students to the ongoing research conducted on the USC campus which incorporates technology in health promotion.  All interested faculty, staff, students and the general public are invited to attend.  Tech Tuesday Talks are presented on the fourth Tuesday of the month in Discovery I Building, Room 140 at noon.  To learn more, visit http://techealth.sc.edu/tech-tuesday-talks or contact magradey@mailbox.sc.edu.