Section outline

  • Lecture: Basic measurement issues in health disparities research

    How do we describe the magnitude of health disparities, or decide whether health disparities are getting smaller or larger?  Although it may sound simple, there are many different approaches to quantifying disparities, and sometimes they give very different insights.  In this class we will compare some approaches, such as focusing on absolute versus relative inequalities and how to choose a reference category. We will also address some basic concepts in measurement of variables in health disparities research.  Rigorous, reproducible measurement protocols are essential to scientific progress, but many key variables in health disparities research are controversial to define or difficult to measure, such as segregation, racism, or social capital.  We will discuss some strategies to overcoming these measurement challenges and to give health disparities research a strong scientific grounding.

    Faculty:  Maria Glymour

    Location:     Mission Hall 1406

    • Session Slides:

    • Measurementv4-2017 File

    • Session Audio/Video Recording (Access restricted to registered students):

    • Watch 2018 URL
      Not available unless: You belong to a group in Registered Students Only
    • Watch 2017 URL
      Not available unless: You belong to a group in Registered Students Only

    • Required Reading:

    • Krieger EverydayDiscrimination File
      Not available unless: Your ID number contains 02
    • Harper and Lynch reading on measuring health disparities only read exec summary File
      Not available unless: Your ID number contains 02

    • Optional Reading:

      Chapter 12 in Social Epidemiology, 2nd edn.  Berkman, Kawachi, and Glymour eds. Oxford Press 2014.

    • Capistrant et al-2014-Journal of the American Geriatrics Society File
      Not available unless: Your ID number contains 02

    • Assignment:

      Please post to the forum by 1pm on the day of class

      Hi everyone, homework this week has three parts (the first two parts are pretty straightforward though).  You will find part 2 substantially easier after you read the Harper reading for this week:

      Part 1:

      1. Choose a paper describing the development or validation of a measure of relevance in health disparities research (please give the full citation and/or upload the paper if that's possible). 

      2. What was the definition of the construct?

      3. How did the authors provide evidence on the validity of the measure? Could you think of additional approaches to validating the measure?

      4. How did the authors provide evidence on the reliability of the measure? Could you think of additional approaches to evaluating the reliability of the measure?

      5. Describe the implications of a lack of measurement validity or reliability for future research applications. 

      Part 2:

      1. Find a paper describing a health disparity (please give the full citation or, even better, upload the paper so everyone else can look at it too) 

      2. Summarize the construct and measurement of the dimension of disparity (e.g., racial inequalities?, SES inequalities?) and the outcome measured (e.g., self-rated health).

      3. What is the evidence for the validity and reliability of the measures?

      4. What is the reference category used for the disparity measure (ie, who is the comparison group)? Why does this reference category make sense (or not) for this research question?

      5. How is the disparity quantified or measured?  Is this an absolute or relative measure or are both provided?  Describe which type of measure you would prefer for this research area, or, if both, why. 

      Part 3:

      1. Read someone else's response to part 1 above (identifying a construct) and comment, specifically noting whether you can see any additional implications of measurement quality for future research or whether you agree with those noted by your classmate.