Measurement Burst Design

The measurement burst design is a design that incorporates bursts of intensive repeated assessment within a relatively short period of time (e.g., days, weeks) that are repeated longitudinally, over more widely spaced temporal intervals (e.g., annually). This design lends itself to the study of short-term variability, long-term change, and individual differences therein. Further, the measurement burst design facilitates the study of dynamic processes that transpire over different temporal scales and how these processes influence one another. This entry describes the measurement burst design, giving examples of its application in adult development and aging research and of the virtues and challenges involved with its implementation.