Data Disaggregation as a Means to Improved Health Research and Policy-Making
September 26-27 2019 | Brookings Institution, Washington, DC
Researchers and policy makers have initiated a recent push towards improved data availability to inform evidence-based policy making. Often the goal of research and policy is to examine differences in outcomes across pre-determined demographic, socio-economic, or geographically distinct populations, and to address the root causes of any documented disparities in these outcomes. In particular, basic socioeconomic differences across racial and ethnic groups must be recognized and studied in order to adequately address health and welfare disparities. Using only average group characteristics in this type of analysis may mask important differences for heterogeneous groups or communities and result in unsuccessful policies.
To adequately address such questions, data must be available at a sufficiently disaggregated level so that the populations of interest are identifiable and there is sufficient statistical power to produce credible empirical estimates. The question of what level of disaggregation is suitable in different settings is not trivial. We are organizing a two-day conference to highlight and discuss issues related to data disaggregation as a means to improve the quality of empirical work and policy effectiveness with an emphasis in health and well-being. We are inviting submissions of research papers that make use of disaggregated data by race or ethnic group (and in conjunction with other potential characteristics as well) that has a clear relationship to answering relevant research questions and informing policy for population health and well-being, including the socio-economic determinants of health. Topics of interest include but are not limited to:
- Effects of various socioeconomic policies disaggregated by race or ethnic groups alone or in conjunction with:
- Subnational geographic units
- Socioeconomic groups
- Age and Gender
- Practice of data disaggregation
- Statistical approaches to working with disaggregated data
- Data and privacy
- Violence Against Women and Children
- Morbidity and Mortality for various groups
- Illegal drug use and addiction
Submission details:
- Papers or extended abstracts must be submitted to [email protected] by July 15, 2019.
- Accepted papers will be notified by August 1, 2019.
Preference will be given to studies that have clear application to public policy.