IJE Advance Access originally published online on January 27, 2009
International Journal of Epidemiology 2009 38(2):361-368; doi:10.1093/ije/dyn356
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Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the International Epidemiological Association © The Author 2009; all rights reserved.
Commentary: Individual, ecological and multilevel fallacies
Division of Epidemiology, University of Minnesota, USA. E-mail: oakes007@umn.edu
Accepted 6 November 2008
| The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below. |
The new paper by Drs Subramanian, Jones, Kaddour and Krieger (hereinafter Authors) contains many important and subtle insights about the fallacies of single-level research, be it at the individual or ecological level.1 The Authors urge epidemiologists to consider contexts and multilevel phenomena when investigating and explaining population health. They also criticize the late William S. Robinson and his classic 1950 paper, and methodological individualism (MI) as a research paradigm.2 Support comes from historical anecdotes, theory and a re-analysis of Robinson's data.
Assuming I understood it properly, I am in full agreement with the primary aim of the new paper. Epidemiologists, especially those interested in the effect of social forces on health, should consider contexts and multilevel phenomena. And as a general proposition, I also agree that critical examination of a scientist's culture, history and personal motivation can be enlightening. The Authors’ scholarship on these matters merits careful study.
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Robinson's paper in context |
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Robinson's mistake |
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MI and multilevel thinking |
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Multilevel models |
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Conclusion |
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Related articles in Int. J. Epidemiol.:
- Response: The value of a historically informed multilevel analysis of Robinson's data
- SV Subramanian, Kelvyn Jones, Afamia Kaddour, and Nancy Krieger
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Int. J. Epidemiol. 2009 38: 342-360.[Abstract] [Full Text]
This article has been cited by other articles:
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  S. Subramanian, K. Jones, A. Kaddour, and N. Krieger Erratum Int. J. Epidemiol., June 1, 2009; 38(3): 891 - 894. [Full Text] [PDF]
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S. Subramanian, K. Jones, A. Kaddour, and N. Krieger Response: The value of a historically informed multilevel analysis of Robinson's data Int. J. Epidemiol., April 1, 2009; 38(2): 370 - 373. [Full Text] [PDF]
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J. Wakefield Multi-level modelling, the ecologic fallacy, and hybrid study designs Int. J. Epidemiol., April 1, 2009; 38(2): 330 - 336. [Full Text] [PDF]
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