Research with American Indian and Alaska Native Populations: Measurement Matters

Overview

Journal J Ethn Subst Abuse

Publisher Routledge

Specialties Psychiatry
Social Sciences

Date 2017 Apr 26

PMID 28441113

Citations 35

Authors

Melissa L Walls

Nancy Rumbaugh Whitesell

Allison Barlow

Michelle Sarche

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Research is an important tool in addressing myriad American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) health disparities; however, tensions exist between common empirical measurement approaches that facilitate cross-cultural comparisons and measurement specificity that may be more valid locally and/or culturally appropriate. The tremendous diversity of AIAN communities, small population sizes of distinct AIAN cultural groups, and varying cultural contexts and worldviews should influence measurement decisions in health research. We provide a framework for guiding measurement in collaboration with AIAN communities using examples from substance abuse research for illustration. Our goal is to build upon ongoing efforts to advance measurement validity for AIAN research by engaging community-researcher partnerships and critical thinking in the selection, adaptation, creation, and implementation of measures.

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