Overview
Purpose: The purpose of this assignment is to critically analyze the use of certain variables in public health research, such as body mass index (BMI) and exposure to racism, to understand their advantages and disadvantages. Additionally, the assignment aims to explore alternative measures for assessing health outcomes and exposures. It seeks to promote an understanding of the challenges in defining and measuring racism, and the need for improved measurement and prevention strategies. Furthermore, it encourages students to reflect on the oversimplification of variables in research and the potential impacts on public health outcomes. Lastly, it aims to help students identify and define social and behavioral factors that influence health and recognize the complexities in measuring these factors.
Learning Outcomes: Upon completing this assignment, students will be able to:
- Students will critically evaluate the use of BMI and propose alternative measures for assessing health outcomes and exposures.
- Students will analyze the challenges and barriers related to defining and measuring racism as a social determinant of health and propose strategies for reducing and preventing racism.
- Students will recognize the limitations of oversimplifying variables in research and the potential dangers of homogenizing groups, particularly minority groups.
- Students will reflect on their learning and consider how it may impact their future work in the field of public health.
Please see this worksheet for instructions.