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Operationalising the collection of ethnicity data in studies of the sociology of health and illness

Aspinall, Peter J. (2001) Operationalising the collection of ethnicity data in studies of the sociology of health and illness. Sociology of Health & Illness, 23 (6). pp. 829-862. ISSN 0141-9889. (doi:10.1111/1467-9566.00277) (KAR id:666)

Abstract

In response to the burgeoning interest in ethnic health issues and related published research, a number of

recent contributors have attempted to clarify or systematize the usage of overarching terminology like

'ethnicity', 'race', 'culture', and 'racism', including the development of guidelines. However, the operational

problems of how to collect ethnicity data in studies of the sociology of health and illness have not been

satisfactorily addressed. This paper explores conceptual issues, notably, the meanings of ethnic identity

and ethnic origin/ancestry; methodological approaches, including which dimensions to collect,

multidimensional versus global measures, and exclusive groups versus optional ethnicity; and also practical

issues such as method of assignment. The approach calls for a stronger development of the theoretical

understandings of ethnicity and work on how best ethnicity should be conceptualised and measured in the

different approaches to explaining ethnic inequalities in health.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1111/1467-9566.00277
Additional information: Pre-publication final version
Uncontrolled keywords: ethnicity, race, terminology, classifications, inequalities, censuses, surveys
Subjects: H Social Sciences > HN Social history and conditions. Social problems. Social reform
Divisions: Divisions > Division for the Study of Law, Society and Social Justice > School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research > Centre for Health Services Studies
Divisions > Division for the Study of Law, Society and Social Justice > School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research
Depositing User: Samantha Osborne
Date Deposited: 19 Dec 2007 18:24 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Nov 2021 09:39 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/666 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Aspinall, Peter J..

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