Group-Evaluated Measures (GEM)

Welcome to the updated GEM website. The updated site has a focus on dissemination of previously evaluated measures from selected National Institutes of Health (NIH) and National Cancer Institute (NCI)-supported initiatives. The goal of GEM is to promote use of these measures in future prospective research efforts. Check back often as we continue to add content from both previous and more recent NIH and NCI initiatives. Please note that measures from other efforts are not being accepted at this time. If you have questions, please contact Richard Moser, PhD.

What is GEM?

Group-Evaluated Measures (GEM) is a National Cancer Institute (NCI) database for researchers with information about behavioral, social science, and other scientific measures organized by associated constructs. Where possible, a copy of the measure or link to an external site for access to the measure is provided.

NCI conceptualized the updated GEM database with two overarching aims for behavioral research:

Promote the use of standardized measures for prospective research and
Facilitate the ability to share harmonized data resulting from the use of standardized measures.

GEM History

Launched in 2010 by the NCI, GEM (originally the Grid-Enabled Measures website) started as an open-source, online collaborative tool. GEM’s original goals were to support researchers and practitioners to identify, assess, and recommend self-reported measures across many domains of cancer-related research. Each working group focused on specific projects and content areas, and reviewed, collected, and recommended specific measures to support the objectives of their projects. The original collaborative platform was utilized by more than 20 groups of researchers and practitioners from its inception in 2010 through 2022. The results of these efforts support researchers who are seeking a set of recommended measures for their research studies and can promote measure reuse, data sharing, and data integration.

In 2023, NCI redesigned GEM to better meet the needs of researchers and practitioners as it provides access to the measures for content areas that were recommended by each of the initiatives that interacted with the original GEM. The current version of GEM builds on the original version by making measures recommended and used by these initiatives (that are available in the public domain) available for others to use to facilitate the use of such measures across the broader research and practice community. The current version also extends beyond measures from the first initiatives to include measures from more recent NIH or NCI-supported initiatives.

The goal of GEM is to provide quality measures that are easily accessible. To be included on GEM, a measure needs to be recommended and utilized by an NIH or NCI-supported initiative and available in the public domain. GEM users are encouraged to learn more about the measures before using them by reading information found on GEM (including the available references) or other available resources.

Note that the updated version of GEM only includes measures recommended by the specific collaborative groups during 2010-2022, and more recent NIH and NCI-supported initiatives, and will not be accepting new measures at this time outside of these efforts.

Initiative Information and Access to Measures

Accumulating Data to Optimally Predict Obesity Treatment (ADOPT)

The ADOPT Core Measures Project aims to advance adult obesity treatment in the face of well-documented individual variability in response to multiple treatment modalities.

Search GEM Database

GEM is a NCI database for researchers with information about and potential access to behavioral, social science, and other scientific measures organized by associated constructs.

Showing 1-10 of 53

Results per page:

Title
Adiponectin, Leptin, Amylin There are a number of analysis techniques that can be employed to measure such peptides e.g. RIA and ELISA, and the recent development of ‘multiplexing’ techniques has allowed the measurement of a large number of peptides in a single assay.
Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function‐Adult Measure of adult executive functioning for people 18-90 years of age. This is a 75-item questionnaire with 9 clinical scales: Inhibit, Self-Monitor, Plan/Organize, Shift, Initiate, Task Monitor, Emotional Control, Working Memory and Organization. Self-report and informant versions.
Behavioral Intentions (behavior-specific) Measures of this construct will vary depending on the target behavior. Thus, investigators will need to identify a measure that is appropriate for the behavior of interest (please see the construct page for further discussion of this issue). Two example measures (one for exercise and one for fruit and vegetable consumption) are available in GEM and can be accessed using the links below.
Berlin Questionnaire for Sleep Apnea The Berlin Questionnaire for Sleep Apnea consists of 3 categories related to the risk of having sleep apnea.
Big Five Inventory‐2 (Long form) This is a revised version of the original Big Five Inventory. It has been refined and expanded to measure 15 facets across the five domains.
Bioelectrical Impedance Spectroscopy (BIS) Bioelectrical impedence spectroscpy is a noninvasive and comparatively inexpensive type of bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) to assess body composition that can be utilized in studies of any size or duration (1). The multisegmental, multifrequency BIS device allows for the identification of more components of bioimpedance (capacitance, resistance, etc.) than single-frequency BIA devices.
Body Mass Index (BMI) Measurement of height and weight; the two measurements can then be used to calculate the commonly used adiposity estimate of Body Mass Index (BMI). BMI is calculated as weight (kg) divided by the square of height (m).
CARDIA/EARLY Self-reported Sedentary Behavior Questionnaire Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) is a study examining the development and determinants of cardiovascular disease and their risk factors.
Density of (1) Supermarkets, (2) Fast food restaurants, and (3) Convenience stores There are multiple ways to measure accessibility of food outlets including proximity, availability, and density. Thus, multiple measures are possible. However, because not all studies can derive distance measures (i.e., they only have the administrative unit where study participants live), the prioritized measure is food outlet density per 10,000 residents. But options include distance (Euclidean or straight-line or Street network) to the nearest food outlet or nearest X number of food outlets; Count of the number of food outlets within a certain distance (e.g., one mile or three miles); Count of the number of food outlets per 10,000 people in an administrative unit or distance (e.g., number of supermarkets per 10,000 people); and Count of the number of food outlets per land area (e.g., number of supermarkets per square mile). Measures that take into account travel time are also possible. Food outlet accessibility can be measured based on where you live and where you work. Each food outlet type should be measured separately.
EARLY Eating Away from Home Questionnaire This measure includes 4 questions, each tapping the frequency with which the respondent: 1) buys food at a fast food restaurant; 2) buys food at a sit down/full service restaurant; 3) buy food from an al you can eat buffet; and 4) eat meals prepared at home

Select NIH Supported Measure Resources For Additional Measures

Contact

Richard Moser, Ph.D.

Training Director and Research Methods Coordinator, GEM Director, Behavioral Research Program, Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences

richard.moser@nih.gov

What is GEM?

GEM History

On This Page

Initiative Information and Access to Measures

Accumulating Data to Optimally Predict Obesity Treatment (ADOPT)

Search GEM Database

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Select NIH Supported Measure Resources For Additional Measures

Contact

Richard Moser, Ph.D.

Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences Program Areas

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