Grid-Enabled Measures Database
What is GEM?
Grid-Enabled Measures, or GEM, is a dynamic Web-based portal where you, the behavioral and social science research community, can work virtually and collaboratively with your colleagues to share measures and harmonize data.
GEM enables the research community to share measures - based on theoretically meaningful constructs - and access harmonized data. Users can search, download, submit, and provide feedback on measures in a centralized manner for the very first time. Through use of common measures, transdisciplinary research through prospective
meta-analyses becomes possible.
SBM is using the GEM system currently to facilitate two projects:
- Vetting submitted behavioral and social measures. From now through March 31, 2011, comment on and rate measures in your area of expertise. After March 31, all comments and ratings will be analyzed, and a final “grid” will display the best measures. By is facilitating the use of shared measures and the exchange of harmonized data, GEM makes transdisciplinary research through prospective meta-analyses possible. Continue reading below to learn how to get involved.
- Evaluation of brief, patient-reported measures of health behaviors and psychosocial factors for use in primary care and public health electronic health records (EHRs). Read more about this initiative and how to participate on SBM’s Public Policy page.
Why use GEM?
- Collaborate with your colleagues
- Conduct research more efficiently
- Use standardized measures
- Exchange harmonized data
- Share knowledge
- Improve comparability across studies
- Move behavioral and social science research forward
- Empower a new generation of investigators
How does GEM work?
GEM Runs on a wiki platform and uses Web 2.0 functionality. You, the user, will help build the Web site and the body of knowledge.
GEM is designed for participation
- Search for a construct (e.g., anxiety, depression), see a definition of the construct, view its associated theoretical foundation, review and download related measures
- Search for a measure and see attributes of that measure (e.g., definition, target population, author, reliability, validity), including the associated construct
- Upload existing measures and associated data using available templates
GEM is data driven
- Determine best measures for research by outcomes such as average rating and number of times a measure was used, along with traditional metrics like reliability and validity
GEM maximizes the wisdom of the crowd
- Provide your expertise and add new information using “wiki” platform
What can you do as a GEM user?
- Search for and download measures, view associated constructs, and explore more detailed information such as related terms and reference material
- Add your own measure and link it to its constructs (templates available)
- View the history of a measure and receive updates in real time through subscriptions
- Comment on a measure and provide a rating to help other researchers gain perspective on the measure’s value, ease of use, application, or psychometric properties
- Identify appropriate measures for your research based on average rating, frequency of use, and traditional metrics found in the metadata, such as reliability and validity
Next steps
- Must be a registered user to actively participate
- Register and begin using GEM today by clicking on the link below
www.gem-beta.org
Additional Resources
- GEM Fact Sheet – A summary of GEM
- GEM FAQ – Provides detailed instructions of how to use GEM
