Harmonization Units and the Harmonization Platform

Each DataSchema in the DataSchema Platform is partnered by a corresponding Harmonization Unit that provides a foundation for harmonizing studies relative to that particular schema (harmonization step 2*). A harmonization unit has two primary elements. First, it embodies a set of "pairing rules" that may be used to determine whether the particular set of assessment items that is available in a given study may or may not be used to construct each individual DataSchema variable. Second, having applied those rules across a number of studies, each unit also contains a comparison table indicating whether or not each DataSchema variable could, in practice, be generated using the particular set of assessment items in each of the studies that has been evaluated. The quality of pairing between each study and each DataSchema variable is assessed as being "Complete", "Partial" or "Impossible".

At present, the Harmonization Platform is under construction. Ultimately, it will contain a growing number of harmonization units, each associated with its related DataSchema. In the longer term, harmonization steps 3* and 4* will also be addressed by the Harmonization Platform by including direct links to algorithmic pairing rules and to IT platforms that enable data to be pooled.