0 7 4 0 7 4 5 9 / 0 1 / $ 1 0 . 0 0 © 2 0 0 1 I E E E Planning for data collection You can’t benchmark data if you haven’t collected it. Writing a questionnaire and having people complete it is not enough—you need a vision. It’s similar to getting the requirement specifications right before developing software: if you learn that something is wrong with the data after collecting and analyzing it...

BACKGROUND Many questionnaires for measuring physical activity (PA) exist. This complicates the comparison of outcomes. METHODS In 8 European countries, PA was measured in random samples of 600 persons, using the IPAQ as a 'bridge' to historical sets of country-specific questions. We assume that a unidimensional scale of PA ability exists on which items and respondents can be placed, irrespec...

The following are a few methods that are used in shallow marsh environment. Project managers and principal investigators should work closely in determining the most suitable method for a specific project. Any subsequent changes in the method of measuring sediment deposition for the same project must be carefully evaluated against the other method, so that continuity and comparability in the dat...

We document some recent changes in the market for loan sales. We use a Tobit model to characterize the determinants of loan sales and purchases by banks, relating quantities bought and sold to bank size, capital, risk, and fbnding mode. The results, though not definitive, broadly confirm the Pennacchi model of sales. Other data cast doubt on the importance of mergers and acquisitions for this m...