 This study provides important evidence on how to measure non-fatal outcomes in the global burden of disease study. It found that disability weights are sensitive to specific details in descriptions of health states, but robust to duration of outcomes. Additionally, it showed that survey responses to paired comparison questions were insensitive to whether the comparisons were framed in terms of temporary or chronic outcomes. This article was authored by Professor Joshua A. Salomon, Ph.D., Juanita A. Hagsma, Ph.D., Professor Adrian Davis, Ph.D., and others.