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Invitation for Proposed Supplemental Modules for Round 6 (2016) of the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS)

The National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) is a national study of functioning in later life. The NHATS is being conducted by the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, with data collection by Westat, and support from the National Institute on Aging. NHATS provides a basis for understanding trends and trajectories in late-life functioning, how these differ for various population subgroups, and the economic and social consequences of aging and disability for individuals, families, and society.

More information about NHATS including copies of the instruments and documentation are available online at http://www.nhats.org/

This announcement invites submission of supplemental modules to be included in Round 6 (2016) of the NHATS. Modules should be brief, no more than 3 minutes in length to administer. We anticipate including up to 3 modules. Sample size available for a module will vary depending on the number of modules included in a wave but will include at least 2,500 individuals. Modules are administered at the end of the NHATS interview. Sample persons are randomly assigned to a module in advance of the interview and are assigned to one module only.

Prior modules for NHATS are:

Round 1: National Long Term Care Survey Screening Questions administered to all sample persons

Round 2: 3 modules administered to a random 1/3 of the sample 1) American Community Survey Disability Questions, 2) Engagement in Health Care, 3) End of Life Plans and Care

Round 3: 3 modules administered to a random 1/3 of the sample 1) Pain, 2) Sleep Quality, 3) Personality Traits.

Round 4: The Round 3 modules were administered to a different random 1/3 of the sample.

Round 5: National Long Term Care Survey Screening Questions administered to all sample persons

For more information on the modules administered in Rounds 1 through 5 see the NHATS Round 3 User Guide at http://www.nhats.org/

Submissions for proposed modules should include the following:

  • Brief summary of the topic and rationale for its inclusion in NHATS (one page or less)
  • Sample size being requested
  • Overview of variables that the module will try to measure
  • References to recent publications on the topic
  • Any survey instruments, scales or other measurement tools that have been used to examine the topic (if any)

The NHATS leadership team will select modules and identify a team member to work in partnership with researchers whose modules are selected to develop the module for administration

Proposals (subject line: NHATS module proposal) should be sent by March, 15, 2015 to Maureen Skehan at mskehan1@jhu.edu. Module selections will be made by June 1, 2015. Please contact Maureen Skehan with any questions.