The measurement and interpretation of health in social surveys
Abstract
Health status is hard to measure. It is widely recognized that health is multi-dimensional
reflecting the combination of an array of factors that include physical, mental and
social well-being, genotype and phenotype influences as well as expectations and information.
A multitude of health indicators have been used in scientific studies drawing on data
from both the developed and developing world. Understanding what those indicators
measure is central if the results reported in the studies are to be interpreted in
a meaningful way...
Type
Journal articlePermalink
https://hdl.handle.net/10161/2622Collections
More Info
Show full item recordScholars@Duke
Duncan Thomas
Norb F. Schaefer Distinguished Professor of International Studies in Trinity College
of Arts and Sciences
Thomas' research interests focus on population health and development. His work delves
inside the black box of the family to provide empirical evidence on how resources
are allocated within families in very low resource environments and highlights the
role of female empowerment in improving the well-being of the next generation.
Understanding the mechanisms that explain why healthier people are richer is a theme
that runs through much of his research. He implemented a large-scale randomized in

Articles written by Duke faculty are made available through the campus open access policy. For more information see: Duke Open Access Policy
Rights for Collection: Scholarly Articles
Works are deposited here by their authors, and represent their research and opinions, not that of Duke University. Some materials and descriptions may include offensive content. More info