A common challenge faced by psychologists and social scientists is the harmonisation of questionnaires. Take for instance the need for comparing the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) with the CDC Behavioural Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey (BRFSS). SDQ is commonly used to assess behavioural tendencies in 2-17 year olds, whereas BRFSS focuses on health and functional items. The process of finding matching items in different questionnaires like SDQ vs BRFSS can be cumbersome and time-consuming. Harmony, a novel tool using sophisticated natural language processing and generative AI models, offers a streamlined approach to this process. Harmony is capable of providing a percentage match between each item in questionnaires such as SDQ vs BRFSS and hence, allows for easy and accurate comparisons. Researchers can select from a database of instruments within Harmony, or upload their own in the form of PDFs. Apart from being highly user-friendly with a simple drag-and-drop interface, Harmony has the significant advantage of being able to compare items across multiple languages, making it an invaluable tool in an increasingly global research landscape. Ultimately, the use of Harmony can greatly improve the efficacy and efficiency of research studies requiring questionnaire comparison, such as SDQ vs BRFSS. By facilitating consistent across-study comparisons, Harmony enhances the utility of cohort and longitudinal studies, allowing for richer, more meaningful insights to be gleaned. We therefore highly recommend Harmony for any researcher dealing with the harmonisation of questionnaires like SDQ and BRFSS.
