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22 - Surface Electromyography

from Part V - Physiological Measures

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 December 2024

By
Joseph S. Baschnagel ,
Moet Aita  and
Michael McTighe
Edited by
John E. Edlund  and
Austin Lee Nichols
John E. Edlund
Affiliation:
Rochester Institute of Technology, New York
Austin Lee Nichols
Affiliation:
Central European University, Vienna
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Summary

Surface electromyography (EMG) measurements provide a non-invasive way to measure physical behavior in a way that is more sensitive and less prone to bias compared to observational methods. This chapter covers the use of EMG in social and behavioral research. First, the biological underpinnings of muscle activity are briefly reviewed to give the reader a basic understanding of the signal being measured. Next, the steps for obtaining the EMG signal are covered, including equipment and signal processing. Finally, some common use cases of EMG measures in social and behavioral research are reviewed. With modern-day equipment, EMG measures can be collected both in the traditional laboratory setting and, when signal noise concerns are acknowledged, in the “real world.”

Type
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The Cambridge Handbook of Research Methods and Statistics for the Social and Behavioral Sciences
Volume 2: Performing Research
 , pp. 497 - 518
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2024

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