Table 2.

Recommendations for conducting research using ethnicity concepts^a

PLANNING RESEARCH

Actively involve community members in all aspects of research

Establish a protocol to monitor and address potential problems stemming from the research (e.g., stigmatization of communities)

Develop and use culturally appropriate instruments

Critically evaluate, explain and attempt to address investigators’ social distance from and assumptions about target group(s)

Where necessary and culturally appropriate, obtain consent or buy-in, from persons other than individual respondents (e.g., tribal elders)

Test ethnicity-related measures in diverse segments of the population

CONDUCTING RESEARCH

Do not limit ethnicity measures to the OMB categories; include additional subpopulation- or region-specific measures

Explain how the measured variables relate to the underlying concepts

When possible, assess the true factors of interest rather than ethnicity-related proxies

Do not exclude eligible groups from participation for non-scientific reasons (e.g., inconvenience)

In publications and presentations, describe the social and cultural context(s) in which the research was conducted

REPORTING FINDINGS

Share findings with community members; involve them in interpreting and disseminating findings

Carefully and fully explain the reasons for observed differences between ethnic groups

Avoid speculation beyond what the data support (e.g., do not suggest genetic links if relevant measures were not obtained)

Consider alternative explanations for unexpected findings

Describe implications for public health practice and policy

^aAdapted from (Warren, Hahn et al. 1994; Ford and Kelly 2005; Griffith, Moy et al. 2006; Bhopal 2007)