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Measures

Measures Available Online*
The following are links to measures for physical activity that are available online:

San Diego State University – Department of Psychology
Click here to visit the website for James F. Sallis, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University (www.rohan.sdsu.edu/faculty/sallis). It contains a link for "Measures and Surveys Available to Download." Click here to access the list of downloads (www.rohan.sdsu.edu/faculty/sallis/measures.html). The list includes SOFIT (System for Observing Fitnessw Instruction Time) and SOPLAY (System for Observing Play and Leisure Activity in Youth).

CDC's Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS)
Learn about the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System at the CDC's website (www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dash/yrbs) The YRBSS is used to monitor priority health risk behaviors that contribute markedly to the leading causes of death, disability, and social problems among youth and adults in the U.S. The six behaviors identified by the CDC, often established during childhood and early adolescence, include unhealthy dietary behaviors and inadequate physical activity.

Citations for Journal Articles Including Measures
for Physical Activity in Children and/or Adolescents

PDPAR - Previous Day Physical Activity Recall
Pate, R. R., Trost, S. G., Felton, G. W., Ward, D. S., Dowda, M., & Saunders, R. (1997). Correlates of physical activity behavior in rural youth. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 68, 241-248. Click here to open a new window with a description of the paper, courtesy of the Behavior Change Consortium. (www1.od.nih.gov/behaviorchange/measures/PDAR.htm)

Physical Activity Questionnaire for Children (PAQ-C) and Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents (PAQ-A)
Crocker, P. R. E., Bailey, D. A., Faulkner, R. A., Kowalski, K. C., and McGrath, R. (1997). Measuring general levels of physical activity: Preliminary evidence for the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 29, 1344-1349.

Kowalski, K. C., Crocker, P. R. E., and Faulkner, R. A. (1997). Validation of the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children. Pediatric Exercise Science, 9, 174-186.

Acknowledgement: Thanks to Suzan Ayers, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Physical Education Teacher Education, School of Physical Education, West Virginia University for providing a list with many of the items above.

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