Big data vs accurate data in health research:large-scale physical activity monitoring, smartphones, wearable devices and risk of unconscious bias

Fundamental to the advancement of scientific knowledge is unbiased, accurate and validated measurement techniques. Recent United Nations and landmark Nature publications highlight the global uptake of mobile technology and the staggering potential for big data to encourage people to be physically active and to influence health policy.However, concerns exist about inconsistencies in smartphone health apps. Big data has many benefits, but noisy data may lead to wrong conclusions. In reaction to the increasing availability of low quality data; we call for a rigorous debate into the validity of substituting big data for accurate data in health research.

Source: Medical Hypotheses - July 16, 2018 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: M.A. Brodie, E.M. Pliner, A. Ho, Kalina Li, Z. Chen, S.C. Gandevia, S.R. Lord Source Type: research