ESRA 2027 sessions by theme

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Session Details

Collection of biomeasure data has been a key feature of many social surveys for a long time. This includes anthropometric (e.g. height, weight, waist), functional (e.g. grip strength, balance), neurological and sensory (e.g. hearing) measurements, as well as biological samples (e.g. blood, saliva, urine), other physiological health measurements (e.g. blood pressure, lung function), and device-based measurement of physical activity. These additional data supplement participant survey data, allowing for more detailed and accurate measurement of people’s health and health-related behaviours.

However, these studies are often highly complex, involving many moving parts and practical challenges, and can raise specific ethical concerns. The challenges include trying to reduce non-response bias, participant burden, and increase data quality through improvements to design processes.

This session, organised by ESRA’s Biomedical Survey Research Special Interest Group (SIG), invites researchers and survey practitioners to share their experiences of addressing practical and ethical challenges to biomeasure data collection. We welcome submissions relating to:
• Maximising response to and/or representativeness of biomeasures
• Maximising data quality and validity of biomeasures
• Ethical challenges in the collection of biomeasures (e.g. relating to consent, feedback of results, etc.)
• Addressing practical challenges when collecting biomeasures, including reviewing and improving processes
• Assessing and addressing bias in biomeasure data
• Assessing fieldworker effects in biomeasure data

Papers need not be restricted to these specific examples.