This text aims to provide a comprehensive introduction to the methodology of population health research and an assessment of underlying theories of health and behaviour, taking an interdisciplinary approach. The contributors take a critical overview of the scientific issues involved, and emphasize the importance of theory-guided, multi-method approaches for research into the complex forces affecting health, health-related behaviour, and the effectiveness of health services. Throughout, the value of analytical models of population health is related to their utility in informing and building theoretical knowledge. This study is designed for professionals and researchers in public health, epidemiology, medicine and medical sociology.
Introduction - Kathryn Dean Integrating Theory and Methods in Population Health Research - Kathryn Dean A Theoretical Basis for Research on Health - Matilda White Riley Age, Period and Cohort Analyses of Health-Related Behaviour - Fredric D Wolinsky Intraindividual Variability - John R Nesselroade and Scott L Hershberger Methodological Issues for Population Health Research A Methodological Approach for Assessing the Stability of Variables Used in Population Research on Health - David V McQueen Validation of Index Scales for Analysis of Survey Data - Svend Kreiner The Sympton Index Some Aspects of Statistical Models - David Cox Graphical Interaction Models - Joe Whittaker A New Approach for Statistical Modelling Association Structures with Few Variables - Nanny Wermuth Characteristics and Examples Specification and Estimation of Latent Variable Models - Gerhard Arminger Researching Population Health - Kathryn Dean, Svend Kreiner and David V McQueen New Directions
`Should prove a useful resource for experienced quantitative researchers and a challenge to those seeking to strengthen the theoretical basis of empirical research' - Journal of Biosocial Science `Kathryn Dean, the editor, heads (and reiterates) the thesis that complexity is involved in causal health processes and that this must be reflected in research on population health issues. Hence, the book focuses on alternative research that involves the collection and analysis of complex information about health issues (eg ageing, AIDS, quality of life etc.) from population groups. An exciting introduction discusses the challenges and proposes the approaches to causal modelling as the way to provide new types of knowledge in the field.... New directions for research, with emphasis on the link between theory and methods - which should be expected to be reflected in the bulk of teaching and research - are covered precisely in the last chapter. This is recommended for scientists with an alternative view of causal research, working in the interdisciplinary field of public health' - European Journal of Public Health `A stimulating discussion of some important methodological issues... This is a book which should be in your library' - Medical Sociology News
