OSU Gerontology Conference

This two-day OSU Gerontology Conference held at Oregon State University features workshops by leading geriatric professionals presenting current information for health and human services occupations in a wide variety of disciplines.

Segerstrom lecture

Power, reliability, and estimation errors in lifespan biomarker research.

Suzanne Segerstrom, PhD, MPH
Professor of Psychology, Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky

The idea of “physiometrics” – the physiological equivalent of psychometrics – seems to have been around for at least three decades. Although the validity of physiological measures is a major research topic, there has been less attention to variability, generalizability, and measure reliability across the lifespan. Inadequate measurement of biomarkers can result in erroneous conclusions. Dr. Segerstrom will present data on biomarker measurement, primarily focusing on salivary cortisol, and describe ways to both compensate for and use variability.