The American Association for Public Opinion Research presents the 2025 AAPOR Seymour Sudman Student Paper Award to Deji Suolang for their paper, “Leveraging Wearable Sensor Data to Enhance Survey Self-Reports: A Mass Imputation Approach”.

This award-winning paper introduces a mass imputation method that integrates real‐time sensor data with self-reported survey measures to overcome the inherent limitations of self-reports. By harnessing data from both the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and the National Health Interview Survey, the study reveals that self-reports consistently understate physical activity—especially among older adults, individuals with lower education, and racial minorities—while sensor measurements deliver a more precise assessment. The rigorous analysis not only addresses key challenges such as selection bias and sample design complexities but also demonstrates the practical applicability of combining diverse data sources to predict health risks more effectively. Ultimately, this work exemplifies innovative research that bridges theoretical insight with practical solutions, marking a significant advancement in survey methodology.

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