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. 1994 Apr;29(1):1–16.

Beyond dummy variables and sample selection: what health services researchers ought to know about race as a variable.

T A LaVeist 1
PMCID: PMC1069985  PMID: 8163376

Abstract

OBJECTIVE. This article addresses the definitional and methodological problems associated with the most common uses of race as a variable in health research. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS. Although often used in health services research, race is a poorly understood concept because it lacks conceptual clarity. Moreover, the measurement problems with race have not yet been adequately addressed. As a result, many quantitative models that attempt to explain race differences are inadequate to inform health or social policy. CONCLUSIONS. Researchers should treat the race variable with the same degree of caution and skepticism with which it treats any other variable.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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