Our expert answers 3 Questions
The Center for Clinical Outcomes Development and Application (CODA) has expertise in measurement — including development, selection and application, and consultation. My primary focus is on measurement development, specifically computer adaptive test development for evaluating different aspects of health-related quality of life. I have R01s focused on Huntington disease, and on caregivers of individuals with Traumatic Brain Injury. I also have funded measurement development work in neonatal brachial plexus palsy, and measurement validation/application in spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, stroke and mild cognitive impairment.
I always have been interested in measurement — hence, my training in neuropsychology. Measurement, while only one piece of the intervention puzzle, is an important one. It is what we use to evaluate the effectiveness of treatments/interventions.
Better outcomes measures (i.e., more sensitive assessment measures) maximize the efficiency of clinical research — fewer participants are needed to determine whether or not an intervention is effective. Furthermore, computer adaptive testing takes substantially less time than traditional tests (without sacrificing sensitivity), thus decreasing the assessment burden.