RCMAR Analysis Core Conference Minutes
August 19, 2014 8:00 A.M. to 9:00 A.M. (Pacific)
Call in information is 888 921-8686 (3103120536#)
Roll call, availability, and role assignments for next teleconference
Name
Present August 19
Available September
16
Hays, Ron (UCLA)
Yes
Yes
Kapteyn, Arie (USC)
Yes
No
Moore, Mignon (UCLA)
Yes
Yes
Mungas, Dan (UC Davis)
?
Yes
Schwartz, Steve (U Wash/U Colorado)
Yes
Yes
Stewart, Anita (UCSF)
Yes
Yes
Templin, Tom (WSU/U Mich)
?
Yes
Teresi, Jeanne (Columbia U)
No
?
Wallace, Steve (UCLA Coord Center)
Yes
Yes
Weech-Maldonado, Rob (Deep South)
Yes
No
Facilitator
Recorder
Mignon Moore
Arie Kapteyn
Dan Mungas
Tom Templin
I. Review and approval of minutes from July call
The minutes from the July call were approved, with minor changes. They will be forwarded for
posting on the password restricted area of the RMCAR web site (http://www.rcmar.ucla.edu/).
Use rcmar, rcmar-II (capitol I’s).
II. Additional/deletions to agenda
None.
III. Announcements
Ron shared the following announcements:
Promoting and Measuring Well-Being and Health-Related Quality of Life: A
Healthy People 2020 Spotlight on Health Webinar
Register Now | September 25, 2014 | 12:30 to 2:00 p.m. ET
The World Health Organization defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental
and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” 1 Healthrelated quality of life and well-being (HRQOL/WB) are multi-dimensional concepts that
include domains related to physical, mental, emotional, and social functioning.
HRQOL/WB outcomes are important because they tell us how people perceive their
life is going from their own perspective. Measuring, tracking, and promoting
HRQOL/WB can be useful for multiple stakeholders involved in disease prevention
and health promotion.
Spread the word!
Tell your colleagues and friends
about this great learning
opportunity. Forward this email or
tweet about the webinar.
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Join us on Thursday, September 25 at 12:30 p.m. ET to learn why HRQOL/WB measures are important and how they are
related to Healthy People 2020 and other national health initiatives. You will also hear from two organizations that use
HRQOL/WB measures to track population health.
Learn more about the Healthy People 2020 topic area of Health-Related Quality of Life and Well-Being.
1
Preamble to the Constitution of the World Health Organization as adopted by the International Health Conference, New York, 1922 June, 1946; signed on 22 July 1946 by the representatives of 61 States (Official Records of the World Health Organization, no. 2,
p. 100) and entered into force on 7 April 1948
Another fyi is the following email sent Monday by Nan Rothrock:
PROMIS and Neuro-QoL short forms can now be scored with the Assessment Center Scoring
Service. The new software application enables item response theory (IRT) calculated scoring. The
Scoring Service accepts a user’s data file and produces a scored output file containing Theta, T-score
and standard error for each respondent. This service allows for accurate scoring of PROMIS and
NeuroQoL instruments collected on paper or in data collection systems other than Assessment Center.
To use the Scoring Service a user first formats data into a specified template format see Input
Template). Then, the user uploads the data file and selects which item-level calibrations to use (e.g.,
English, Spanish). An output file containing instrument scores is then sent to the user via
email. Scores are calculated based on item parameters. This type of scoring is slightly more accurate
than the use of look-up tables which transform raw summary scores to scale scores. Unlike look-up
tables, the Scoring Service will estimate a score for respondents with missing item responses. It can be
utilized for existing PROMIS and NeuroQoL short forms or custom short forms created using a subset
of items from the existing PROMIS and NeuroQoL item banks. The Scoring Service may be used for
all adult and pediatric self-report instruments as well as parent proxy instruments.
The Assessment Center Scoring Service may be accessed from www.assessmentcenter.net by clicking
on the Scoring Service button on the right. An Assessment Center Scoring Service User Manual is
available here.
Happy scoring!
Nan
Dan added the following announcement:
Johns Hopkins via Coursera is offering a Data Sciences Specialization Certificate program. The url
is: https://www.coursera.org/specialization/jhudatascience/1?utm_medium=listingPage.
This Specialization includes 10 individual courses: 1) The Data Scientist's Toolbox, 2) R
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Programming, 3) Getting and Cleaning Data, 4) Exploratory Data Analysis, 5) Reproducible
Research, 6) Statistical Inference, 7) Regression Models, 8) Practical Machine Learning, 9)
Developing Data Products, 10) Data Science Capstone.
The courses are online MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses), typically are 1 month in duration,
and are repeated frequently. Those completing this series can receive a formal certificate.
IV. Annotated Reference Lists
We reviewed the outstanding reference lists to build positive intentions for moving them
forward:
-
Qualitative methods in minority aging research (Mignon Moore, UCLA): Mignon is still
working on it.
-
Moderator and Mediator Analyses for Investigating Determinants of Health Disparities
(Tom Templin, MCUAAAR): Tom is working on this.
-
Measuring and Modeling cognitive function (Dan Mungas, UC Davis). Dan is still working on
it.
-
Online panels (Ron Hays to first draft, cleaned up by Arie Kapteyn, UCLA/USC): Ron sent
draft to Arie for clean up; the ball is in Arie’s court.
-
Secondary Datasets on Minority Aging Issues (Deep South RCMAR, Giyeon Kim)
V. RCMAR Preconference Workshop – 2015 – Use of Well-Being Measures in Minority Aging
Research
Next year the annual meetings of the Gerontological Society of America (GSA) will be held in
Orlando, FL from November 18-22, 2015 (November 18 is the day of the workshop). Arie
reiterated Arthur Stone’s commitment to speak. He may ask him to join the next call. Ron
reiterated his personal interest in hearing about how subjective well-being and healthrelated quality of life intersect and diverge from one another (Anita is listed as the speaker).
Steve W. referred to use of well-being measures in national datasets (Jacqui Smith is the
listed speaker).
Ron expressed an interest in possibly presenting on the topic of subjective well-being vs.
health-related quality of life, in case Anita would be less interested.
Post Call Details
2014 RCMAR Measurement and Methods Conference Call Assignments
Month
January 21
February 18
March 18
Recorder
Anita Stewart
Dan Mungas
No March Call
Facilitator
Rob Weech-Maldonado
Anita Stewart
No March Call
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2014 RCMAR Measurement and Methods Conference Call Assignments
Recorder
Month
April 15
May 20
June 17
July 15
August 19
September 16
October 21
November 18
December 16
Steve Schwartz
Tom Templin
Ron Hays
Mignon Moore
Arie Kapteyn
Tom Templin
Facilitator
Dan Mungas
Rob Weech-Maldonado
Arie Kapteyn
Ron Hays
Mignon Moore
Dan Mungas
Summary of 2014 completed conference call participation
Name
Ron D. Hays
Arie Kapteyn
Mignon Moore
Dan Mungas
Steve Schwartz
Anita Stewart
Tom Templin
Rob Weech-Maldonado
Email Addresses
Ron D. Hays
Arie Kapteyn
Mignon Moore
Dan Mungas
Steve Schwartz
Anita Stewart
Tom Templin
Jeanne Teresi
Steven P. Wallace
Rob Weech-Maldonado
# Recorder
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
# Facilitator
1
1
1
1
0
1
0
1
Total count
2
2
2
2
1
2
1
2
drhays@ucla.edu
kapteyn@usc.edu
moore@soc.ucla.edu
dmmungas@ucdavis.edu
stevesch@u.washington.edu
anita.stewart@ucsf.edu
ac0410@wayne.edu
teresimeas@aol.com
swallace@ucla.edu
rweech@uab.edu
Agenda for Next RCMAR Analysis Core Conference Call
September 16, 2014 11:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. (Eastern)
Call in information is 888 921-8686 (3103120536#)
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Pin code for moderator: 6769
I. Roll call, availability, and role assignments for next teleconference
II. Review and approval of minutes from last call
III. Additions/deletions to agenda
IV. Announcements
V. Annotated reference lists
VI. 2015 Preconference: Use of Well-Being Measures in Minority Aging Research.
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Annotated Reference Lists
Methods for Developing, Adapting, and Testing Measures for Minority
Populations






Overviews of Measurement Issues
Using Focus Groups in the Development of Structured Surveys (UCSF)
Using Cognitive Interviews to Develop Structured Surveys (UCSF - updated June 2010)
IRT & DIF Readings (UCLA - updated July 2010)
Guidelines for Translating Surveys in Cross-Cultural Research (UCSF - updated May 2010)
Qualitative methods in minority aging research (Under development by UCLA)

Best Practices for Mixed Methods Research in the Health Sciences - NIH Office of Behavioral
and Social Sciences Research (also relevant to the next topic listed directly below)
Quantitative Analytic Methods


Strengthening Causal Inference in Nonrandomized Health Disparity Designs
Moderator and Mediator Analyses for Investigating Determinants of Health Disparities (Under
development by MCUAAR)
Concepts and Measures of Race/Ethnicity and Ethnic Identity




Ethnic Identity References
Race/Ethnicity - Conceptualization
Race/Ethnicity - Data Quality
Racial/Ethnic Discrimination Measurement
Specific Measures in Minority Populations




SF-36 in Older Minority Populations
Measuring and Modeling Cognitive Function (Under development by UC Davis)
Measuring Depression
Measuring Health Literacy
Methods for Collecting Data

Online Panels, American Association of Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) Report, 2010

Online panels issues (Under development by USC & UCLA)
Available Datasets

Secondary Datasets on Minority Aging Issues (Under development by UAB)
Methodological Issues Conducting Interventions to Reduce Disparities

Methodological Resources for Translating Evidence-Based Behavioral Interventions (EBI) to
Reach Disparity Populations in Ethnically Diverse Communities (UCSF)
Depression (development TBA)
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APPENDIX II: 2015 PRECONFERENCE WORKSHOP
Use of Well-Being Measures in Minority Aging Research
January 21, 2014 Updates
Funding has been received for this full-day workshop (November 18, 2015) based on the
following abstract:
2015: Use of Well-being Measures in Minority Aging Research. As the interest in healthy
aging has grown, measuring subjective well-being has become part of identifying trends in aging
and evaluating the impacts of policy on health. A NIA/Brookings 2011 workshop concluded that
subjective well-being measures could be useful and appropriate for targeted populations and
policies, although the usefulness for the general population was uncertain. Key issues included
variations in how behavior is influenced by well-being in different groups, how to account for
adaptation to objectively bad circumstances, how different groups interpret survey questions on
well-being, and how to include equity considerations. The goals of this conference are to
introduce minority aging researchers to the usefulness and impact of research on well-being, to
connect leading researchers in the measuring well-being to scholars in minority aging, to
stimulate new research using state of the art measures on well-being relevant to minority
elderly populations, and improve the utility of research on well-being among elders of color in
policy and practice. The objectives are for participants to improve their understanding of wellbeing theory, methods, and application so that they are better able to incorporate well-being in
their research questions, analysis, and dissemination. The morning will be devoted to
presentations from leaders in the field of well-being measures reviewing key domains in wellbeing as they apply to minority aging. The afternoon will focus on practice skills and include a
small group breakout session led by the speakers to discuss incorporating well-being measures
into minority aging research agendas.
Additional topics raised on January call: Are they differences in the meaning of SWB by
race/ethnic group?
The only confirmed speaker is Arthur Stone. We need to discuss the draft content and
speakers.
Topics
Keynote: State of the Art in
Measuring Subjective Wellbeing
Economic Approaches
Speaker
Arthur Stone, PhD,
CONFIRMED
Psychological Approaches
Cross national/cross cultural
perspectives
Carol Ryff, PhD
Carol Graham, PhD
Arie Kapteyn, PhD
Affiliation
Distinguished Professor, Stony Brook
University.; Chair, NAS panel on Measuring
subjective well-being
Prof., Econ.; Assoc. Dir. USC RCMAR; Former
Dir., Roybal Center, Financial Decision-making,
RAND
Professor, Psychology, Univ. of Wis.-Madison
College Park Professor, Univ. of Maryland
School of Public Policy
Page 7
Topics
Integrating minority aging
issues, Discussion by RCMAR
directors
Speaker
James S. Jackson, PhD
Spero Manson, PhD
Eliseo Pérez-Stable,MD
Testing measurement
equivalence
Subjective well-being vs.
health-related quality of life
Ron Hays, PhD
Measurement of well-being in
national datasets
Jacqui Smith, PhD
Anita Stewart, PhD
Affiliation
Professor, Univ. of Michigan & RCMAR
Distinguished Prof., U Colorado-Denver &
RCMAR
Professor, UC-San Francisco & RCMAR
Professor, GIM/HSR, UC-Los Angeles &
RCMAR
Professor, Institute on Health & Aging, UCSan Francisco & RCMAR
Professor, Psychology; Co-I, Health &
Retirement Study, Univ. of Michigan & RCMAR
In December, Arie Kapteyn circulated by email a copy of “Subjective Well-Being: Measuring
Happiness, suffering, and other dimensions of experience” (authored by Kapteyn, Lee, Tassot,
Vonkova, and Zamarrow) and a National Research Council of the National Academies report,
“Panel on measuring subjective well-being in a policy-relevant framework” (edited by Arthur A.
Stone and Christopher Mackie). Arie also noted that Arthur Stone has moved to USC from
Stony Brook to head the Center for Self-Report Science.
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