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Research ArticleArticles

Conceptualizing, Contextualizing, and Operationalizing Race in Quantitative Health Sciences Research

Elle Lett, Emmanuella Asabor, Sourik Beltrán, Ashley Michelle Cannon and Onyebuchi A. Arah
The Annals of Family Medicine January 2022, 2792; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1370/afm.2792
Elle Lett
1Center for Health Equity Advancement, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
2Center for Applied Transgender Studies, Chicago, Illinois
3Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
3Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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Emmanuella Asabor
1Center for Health Equity Advancement, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
2Center for Applied Transgender Studies, Chicago, Illinois
4Palliative and Advanced Illness Research (PAIR) Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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Sourik Beltrán
1Center for Health Equity Advancement, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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Ashley Michelle Cannon
1Center for Health Equity Advancement, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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Onyebuchi A. Arah
1Center for Health Equity Advancement, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
2Center for Applied Transgender Studies, Chicago, Illinois
2Center for Applied Transgender Studies, Chicago, Illinois
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Abstract

Differences in health outcomes across racial groups are among the most commonly reported findings in health disparities research. Often, these studies do not explicitly connect observed disparities to mechanisms of systemic racism that drive adverse health outcomes among racialized and other marginalized groups in the United States. Without this connection, investigators inadvertently support harmful narratives of biologic essentialism or cultural inferiority that pathologize racial identities and inhibit health equity. This paper outlines pitfalls in the conceptualization, contextualization, and operationalization of race in quantitative population health research and provides recommendations on how to appropriately engage in scientific inquiry aimed at understanding racial health inequities. Race should not be used as a measure of biologic difference, but rather as a proxy for exposure to systemic racism. Future studies should go beyond this proxy use and directly measure racism and its health impacts.

Key words:
  • racism
  • race
  • inequity
  • disparity
  • intersectionality
  • epidemiology
  • community/public health
  • Received for publication September 7, 2021.
  • Revision received November 23, 2021.
  • Accepted for publication November 30, 2021.
  • © 2021 Annals of Family Medicine, Inc.
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The Annals of Family Medicine: 21 (2)
The Annals of Family Medicine: 21 (2)
Vol. 21, Issue 2
March/April 2023
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Conceptualizing, Contextualizing, and Operationalizing Race in Quantitative Health Sciences Research
Elle Lett, Emmanuella Asabor, Sourik Beltrán, Ashley Michelle Cannon, Onyebuchi A. Arah
The Annals of Family Medicine Jan 2022, 2792; DOI: 10.1370/afm.2792

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Conceptualizing, Contextualizing, and Operationalizing Race in Quantitative Health Sciences Research
Elle Lett, Emmanuella Asabor, Sourik Beltrán, Ashley Michelle Cannon, Onyebuchi A. Arah
The Annals of Family Medicine Jan 2022, 2792; DOI: 10.1370/afm.2792
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Subjects

  • Person groups:
    • Community / population health
  • Methods:
    • Cross-disciplinary
  • Other research types:
    • Translational research
  • Other topics:
    • Racism
    • Social / cultural context
    • Disparities in health and health care

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  • race
  • inequity
  • disparity
  • intersectionality
  • epidemiology
  • community/public health

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