Methods in Social Epidemiology, 2nd Edition

Methods in Social Epidemiology (second edition) introduces students and researchers to theory and methods of social epidemiology. Social epidemiology is the branch of epidemiology that considers how social interactions and purposive human activity affect health. In other words, social epidemiology is about how a society’s innumerable social interactions, past and present, yield differential exposures and thus differences in health outcomes between persons who make up populations. Social epidemiology is thus not only about the identification of new disease specific risk factors (e.g., deficient social capital) it is also about how well-known exposures (e.g., cigarette smoking, lead paint, health insurance) emerge and are maintained by the social system.

Since the publication of the first edition, social epidemiology has grown tremendously and is now formally recognized by leading academic departments and the national associations. Abstract submissions to the prestigious annual meetings of Society for Epidemiologic Research often swamp other topic areas. Additionally, the science has evolved. Questions are better and methodological sophistication has improved. Social epidemiologists better appreciate the importance of causal inference and core assumptions behind effect identification. Related peer-reviewed publications are usually of better quality, even if results are more tenuous due to a deeper understanding of the complex phenomena.  Many changes and refinements in social epidemiological research methods are reflected in the new contents.

1. Introduction: Advancing Methods in Social Epidemiology; Michael Oakes, Jay Kaufman
2. Measuring and Analyzing Socioeconomic Status (SES); Michael Oakes, Kate Nygaard
3. Measuring and Analyzing Race/Ethnicity; Saffron Karlsen, James Yzet Nazroo
4. Measuring and Analyzing Poverty; David M. Betson, Jennifer L. Warlick
5. Measuring and Analyzing Health Inequalities; Sam Harper, John Lynch
6. Measuring and Analyzing Segregation; Sean F. Reardon
7. Measures of Residential Community Contexts; Patricia O’Campo, Margaret O’Brien Caughy
8. Multilevel Theory and Analysis; Michael Oakes, Lynne C. Messer, Monica Muller
9. Community-based Participatory Research; Paula M. Lantz, Barbara A. Israel, Amy J. Schulz, Angela Reyes
10. Network Methods in Social Epidemiology; David Shoham, Amy Auchencloss
11. Qualitative Data Collection in Disadvantaged Areas; Stefanie Deluca
12. Community Trials; Peter J. Hannan
13. Propensity Score Matching; Michael Oakes, Mary Stuart
14. Lifecourse Theory and Analysis; Ildefonso Cerdá, Jennifer Weuve, Julie Daniel, Bianca De Stavola
15. Random and Fixed Effects Models; Ashley H Schempf, Jay Kaufman
16. Interrupted Time Series & Regression Discontinuity Designs; Erin Strumpf, Sam Harper, Jay Kaufman
17. Effect Decomposition (ie, Mediation); Arjiit Nandi, Daniela Hafeman, Tyler VanderWeele
18. Population Standardization; Jennifer Ahern, Alan Hubbard
19. Genetic Methods for Social Epidemiology; Davey Smith
20. Natural Experiments and Instrumental Variables; Maria Glymour
21. Directed Acyclic Graphs (DAGs); Maria Glymour