Measurement Toolkit - Inventory and taxonomy of pattern metrics

Physical Activity Assessment Domain

Introduction

Subjective methods

Objective methods

Harmonisation

Video resources

Other

Physical activity assessment decision matrix

Inventory and taxonomy of pattern metrics

Contents

Introduction
Taxonomy
Inventory

Introduction

A wide range of analytical approaches have been suggested to quantify variation over time in physical behaviour. Kobeissi et al reviewed the literature (https://doi.org/10.1123/jmpb.2024-0035) and identified 161 different metrics that had been applied in physical activity research, see the inventory below.

The authors proposed a taxonomy that describes conceptual dimensions of these metrics and help guide selection of metrics for different research questions, see the taxonomy table below.

Taxonomy

Stage	Node#	Node	Branch1	Branch2	Branch3	Code
I. Data preparation	1	Data format	Raw signal			1.1
			Counts/steps			1.2
			Either raw signal or counts/steps			1.3
			Microsummary metrics			1.4
			Any of the above			1.5
			Other			1.6

	2	Input derivation method	Predefined			2.1
			Data-driven			2.2
			Either/or			2.3

II. Input movement behaviour dimensions	3	Inclusion of posture	Always included			3.1
			Could be included			3.2
			Not included			3.3

	4	Inclusion of volume	Always included			4.1
			Could be included			4.2
			Not included			4.3

	5	Inclusion of frequency	Always included	Number of bouts/breaks		5.1.1
				Number of peaks/fluctuations		5.1.2
				Number of specific sequences		5.1.3
				Other		5.1.4
			Could be included			5.2
			Not included			5.3

	6	Inclusion of duration	Always included	Unbouted		6.1.1
				Bouted	Bout length specified	6.1.2.1
				Bouted	Bout length not specified	6.1.2.2
				Either/or		6.1.3
			Could be included			6.2
			Not included			6.3

	7	Inclusion of intensity	Always included	Binary state		7.1.1
				Multicategory		7.1.2
				Either binary or multicategory		7.1.3
				Continuous		7.1.4
				Any of the above		7.1.5
			Could be included			7.2
			Not included			7.3

III. Output measures	8	Pattern definition	Comparison			8.1
			Intensity distribution	Metrics summarising intensity distribution		8.2.1
			Intensity distribution	Cyclical rhythm of activity		8.2.2
			Absolute timing	Cyclical rhythm of activity		8.3.1
			Absolute timing	Metrics of absolute time		8.3.2
			Regularity of movement	Direct measures		8.4.1
				Indirect measures: frequency of bouts		8.4.2
				Indirect measures: bout length		8.4.3
				Indirect measures: frequency & bout length		8.4.4
				Indirect measures: volume/duration with MBD*		8.4.5
				Indirect measures: categorisation		8.4.6
				Indirect measures: stability		8.4.7
				Indirect measures: complexity		8.4.8
			Temporal sequence			8.5
			Attributed variance			8.6
			Other			8.7

IV. Output derivation method	9	Computational methods on input	Descriptive Analysis Methods			9.1
			Inferential Statistical Methods			9.2
			Dimensionality Reduction Methods			9.3
			Clustering and Classification Methods			9.4
			Complex Systems Analysis Methods			9.5
			Other			9.6
*MBD: minimum bout duration

Inventory

Please refer to publication - will be updated later