Ecological studies

2020 ◽  
pp. 113-126
Author(s):  
Jayati Das-Munshi
Keyword(s):  
Ecological Study ◽  
Multilevel Modelling ◽  
Ecological Studies ◽  
Aggregated Data ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Country Level ◽  
Level Information ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Study Designs ◽  
Over Time

Ecological studies use aggregated data to infer correlation of exposures with outcomes over time, or by place. One of the first examples of an ecological study was Emile Durkheim’s exploration of country-level factors underlying suicide, first published in 1897. Ecological studies have continued to hold an important place in psychiatry, particularly for developing hypotheses. They can also be used to assess the impact of policies on health outcomes over time. There are important limitations associated with ecological study designs, in particular the ability to make causal inferences at the individual level. Multilevel modelling approaches are an important analytic development in the field, which allow the possibility of using group-level information alongside individual-level attributes in analyses. In the first part of this chapter, some examples of ecological studies and their advantages and disadvantages will be introduced. In the second part of this chapter, multilevel modelling techniques will be briefly introduced and discussed with respect to their use in overcoming some of the limitations of geographical ecological studies.

scholarly journals The closer to the Europe Union headquarters, the higher risk of COVID-19? Cautions regarding ecological studies of COVID-19

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuai Li ◽  
Xinyang Hua
Keyword(s):  
European Country ◽  
Ecological Study ◽  
Ecological Fallacy ◽  
Group Level ◽  
Ecological Studies ◽  
Public Concern ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
The Public ◽  
Country Level ◽  
Level Data

AbstractSeveral ecological studies of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have reported correlations between group-level aggregated exposures and COVID-19 outcomes. While some studies might be helpful in generating new hypotheses related to COVID-19, results of such type of studies should be interpreted with cautions. To illustrate how ecological studies and results could be biased, we conducted an ecological study of COVID-19 outcomes and the distance to Brussels using European country-level data. We found that, the distance was negatively correlated with COVID-19 outcomes; every 100 km away from Brussels was associated with approximately 6% to 17% reductions (all P<0.01) in COVID-19 cases and deaths in Europe. Without cautions, such results could be interpreted as the closer to the Europe Union headquarters, the higher risk of COVID-19 in Europe. However, these results are more likely to reflect the differences in the timing of and the responding to the outbreak, etc. between European countries, rather than the ‘effect’ of the distance to Brussels itself. Associations observed at the group level have limitations to reflect individual-level associations – the so-called ecological fallacy. Given the public concern over COVID-19, ecological studies should be conducted and interpreted with great cautions, in case the results would be mistakenly understood.

scholarly journals A Multilevel Modeling Study of the Influence of Relationship Enhanc¬ing Traits and Individualism on Satisfaction with Life Across Nations [Estudio de la influencia de los rasgos y el individualismo en la satisfacción vital entre naciones: un modelo multinivel].

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 15
Author(s):  
Anita Feher ◽  
Paul F. Tremblay
Keyword(s):  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Close Relationships ◽  
Satisfaction With Life ◽  
Interpersonal Trust ◽  
Multilevel Modelling ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Country Level ◽  
Cross Cultural Study ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Level 2

The current cross-cultural study explored the associations between relationship enhancing traits (interpersonal trust, importance of close relationships, sociability), characteristics corresponding to an individualistic attitude (competition, autonomy), and life satisfaction. Data for this study was from 24 of the 59 countries used in the World Values Survey Wave 6. Multilevel modelling was used as a means to analyse the influence of individual level (Level 1) and country level (Level 2) variables on life satisfaction. Results indicated that the individual level predictors interpersonal trust and importance of close relationships made meaningful positive contributions to life satisfaction. The competition variable aggregated at the country level significantly negatively predicted life satisfaction, while country-level aggregated autonomy shared a positive relationship with life satisfaction.

Ecological and cross-level studies

2003 ◽  
pp. 97-110
Author(s):  
Jan Neeleman
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Common Mental Disorder ◽  
Added Value ◽  
Ecological Studies ◽  
Ecological Data ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
The Social ◽  
Level Information ◽  
History Of ◽  
Study Designs

Ecological studies differ from other study designs by having groups of individuals as their unit of analysis. Studying differences in risk factors between individuals cannot fully explain variations in the health of populations in different regions or over time, and ignores the fact that a population's health impacts on social functioning and collective economic performance (McMichael and Beaglehole 2000). Similarly, there is increasing interest on the impact of social capital, or those aspects of the social environment that promote cohesion and cooperation, which have been associated with improved health and other outcomes. For example, a recent study found higher rates of common mental disorder among British women living in areas of low social capital (McCulloch 2001). Thus ecological associations can be analysed to gain insight into aetiological mechanisms at the level of individuals (cross-level inference), although there is ongoing debate about whether ecological analyses can add to insights obtained from studies of individual persons. Kasl (1979) stated that ‘ecological analyses lead to results which, in themselves, are opaque, unhelpful, potentially misleading’. Others emphasize that population health is more than the sum of the health of individual population members, and that therefore, ecological studies have a separate role alongside individual-level epidemiological research (Rose 1992). This chapter summarizes the principles and the place of ecological studies in the history of epidemiology, and the distinguishing properties of ecological data. After a description of ecological study designs and their analysis, the chapter argues that ecological data have added value even if individual-level information is available on the associations of interest.

Perceptions of violence against women in Europe: Assessing individual- and country-level factors

2019 ◽  
pp. 147737081985946
Author(s):  
David Vázquez ◽  
Eva Aizpurua ◽  
Jennifer Copp ◽  
Jorge J. Ricarte
Keyword(s):  
Violence Against Women ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Multilevel Modelling ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Country Level ◽  
Women’S Perceptions ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Defensive Behaviours ◽  
Partner Violence Against Women

This study analyses individual- and country-level factors influencing women’s perceptions of the prevalence of violence against women in their countries. Multilevel modelling was used to study 39,377 women residing in 28 member states of the European Union (EU). Individual-level predictor variables included direct victimisation, vicarious victimisation, avoidant and defensive behaviours, awareness, and sociodemographic characteristics. At the country level, we accounted for an index of gender equality and the prevalence of intimate partner violence against women. The results showed that approximately 80 percent of women indicated that violence against women was common in their country. Most of the individual-level covariates were statistically significant, whereas the country-level indicators were not significantly associated with perceptions of violence against women.

scholarly journals Anopheles salivary antigens as serological biomarkers of vector exposure and malaria transmission: A systematic review with multilevel modelling

eLife ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ellen A Kearney ◽  
Paul A Agius ◽  
Victor Chaumeau ◽  
Julia C Cutts ◽  
Julie A Simpson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Malaria Transmission ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Multilevel Modelling ◽  
Relative Increase ◽  
Entomological Surveillance ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Country Level ◽  
The Individual

<b>Background:</b> Entomological surveillance for malaria is inherently resource-intensive and produces crude population-level measures of vector exposure which are insensitive in low-transmission settings. Antibodies against Anopheles salivary proteins measured at the individual-level may serve as proxy biomarkers for vector exposure and malaria transmission, but their relationship is yet to be quantified. <b>Methods:</b> A systematic review of studies measuring antibodies against Anopheles salivary antigens (PROSPERO: CRD42020185449). Multilevel modelling (to account for multiple study-specific observations (level-one), nested within study (level-two), and study nested within country (level-three)) estimated associations between seroprevalence with Anopheles human biting rate (HBR) and malaria transmission measures. <b>Results:</b> From 3981 studies identified in literature searches, 42 studies across 16 countries were included contributing 393 study-specific observations of anti-Anopheles salivary antibodies determined in 42,764 samples. A positive association between HBR (log transformed) and seroprevalence was found; overall a 2-fold (100% relative) increase in HBR was associated with a 23% increase in odds of seropositivity (OR: 1.23, 95%CI: 1.10-1.37, p<0.001). The association between HBR and Anopheles salivary antibodies was strongest with concordant, rather than discordant Anopheles species. Seroprevalence was also significantly positively associated with established epidemiological measures of malaria transmission: entomological inoculation rate, Plasmodium spp. prevalence, and malarial endemicity class. <b>Conclusions:</b> Anopheles salivary antibody biomarkers can serve as a proxy measure for HBR and malaria transmission, and could monitor malaria receptivity of a population to sustain malaria transmission. Validation of Anopheles species-specific biomarkers are important given the global heterogeneity in the distribution of Anopheles species. Salivary biomarkers have the potential to transform surveillance by replacing impractical, inaccurate entomological investigations, especially in areas progressing towards malaria elimination. <b>Funding:</b> Australian National Health and Medical Research Council, Wellcome Trust.

scholarly journals Widespread use of face masks in public may slow the spread of SARS CoV-2: an ecological study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris Kenyon
Keyword(s):  
Ecological Study ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Face Mask ◽  
Binary Variable ◽  
Negatively Associated ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Country Level ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Residual Confounding

AbstractBackgroundThe reasons for the large differences between countries in the sizes of their SARS CoV-2 epidemics is unknown. Individual level studies have found that the use of face masks was protective for the acquisition and transmission of a range of respiratory viruses including SARS CoV-1. We hypothesized that population level usage of face masks may be negatively associated SARS CoV-2 spread.MethodsAt a country level, linear regression was used to assess the association between COVID-19 diagnoses per inhabitant and the national promotion of face masks in public (coded as a binary variable), controlling for the age of the COVID-19 epidemic and testing intensity.ResultsEight of the 49 countries with available data advocated wearing face masks in public – China, Czechia, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand and Malaysia. In multivariate analysis face mask use was negatively associated with number of COVID-19 cases/inhabitant (coef. −326, 95% CI −601- −51, P=0.021). Testing intensity was positively associated with COVID-19 cases (coef. 0.07, 95% CI 0.05-0.08, P<0.001).ConclusionWhilst these results are susceptible to residual confounding, they do provide ecological level support to the individual level studies that found face mask usage to reduce the transmission and acquisition of respiratory viral infections.

Personality change and environmental concerns

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher James Hopwood ◽  
Ted Schwaba ◽  
Wiebke Bleidorn
Keyword(s):  
Personality Traits ◽  
Personality Change ◽  
Environmental Concerns ◽  
Big Five Personality ◽  
German Population ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Sustainable Behavior ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Over Time

Personal concerns about climate change and the environment are a powerful motivator of sustainable behavior. People’s level of concern varies as a function of a variety of social and individual factors. Using data from 58,748 participants from a nationally representative German sample, we tested preregistered hypotheses about factors that impact concerns about the environment over time. We found that environmental concerns increased modestly from 2009-2017 in the German population. However, individuals in middle adulthood tended to be more concerned and showed more consistent increases in concern over time than younger or older people. Consistent with previous research, Big Five personality traits were correlated with environmental concerns. We present novel evidence that increases in concern were related to increases in the personality traits neuroticism and openness to experience. Indeed, changes in openness explained roughly 50% of the variance in changes in environmental concerns. These findings highlight the importance of understanding the individual level factors associated with changes in environmental concerns over time, towards the promotion of more sustainable behavior at the individual level.

scholarly journals Interpersonal Comparisons of the Good: Epistemic not Impossible

Utilitas ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 288-313 ◽  
Author(s):  
MATHEW COAKLEY
Keyword(s):  
Institutional Choice ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Interpersonal Comparisons ◽  
Individual Good ◽  
Level Information ◽  
Action Policy ◽  
Social Mind ◽  
The Individual

To evaluate the overall good/welfare of any action, policy or institutional choice we need some way of comparing the benefits and losses to those affected: we need to make interpersonal comparisons of the good/welfare. Yet sceptics have worried either: (1) that such comparisons are impossible as they involve an impossible introspection across individuals, getting ‘into their minds’; (2) that they are indeterminate as individual-level information is compatible with a range of welfare numbers; or (3) that they are metaphysically mysterious as they assume the existence either of a social mind or of absolute levels of welfare when no such things exist. This article argues that such scepticism can potentially be addressed if we view the problem of interpersonal comparisons as fundamentally an epistemic problem – that is, as a problem of forming justified beliefs about the overall good based on evidence of the individual good.

Inequality in active ageing: evidence from a new individual-level index for European countries

2017 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 541-567 ◽  
Author(s):  
MIKKEL BARSLUND ◽  
MARTEN VON WERDER ◽  
ASGHAR ZAIDI
Keyword(s):  
Age Groups ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
European Countries ◽  
Active Ageing ◽  
Unequal Distribution ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Country Level ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Share Data ◽  
The Individual

ABSTRACTIn the context of emerging challenges and opportunities associated with population ageing, the study of inequality in active-ageing outcomes is critical to the design of appropriate and effective social policies. While there is much discussion about active ageing at the aggregate country level, little is known about inequality in active-ageing experiences within countries. Based on the existing literature on active ageing, this paper proposes an individual-level composite active ageing index based on Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) data. The individual-level nature of the index allows us to analyse inequality in experiences of active ageing within selected European countries. One important motivation behind measuring active ageing at the individual level is that it allows for a better understanding of unequal experiences of ageing, which may otherwise be masked in aggregate-level measures of active ageing. Results show large differences in the distribution of individual-level active ageing across the 13 European countries covered and across age groups. Furthermore, there is a positive association between the country-level active ageing index and the equality of its distribution within a country. Hence, countries with the lowest average active ageing index tend to have the most unequal distribution in active-ageing experiences. For nine European countries, where temporal data are also available, we find that inequality in active-ageing outcomes decreased in the period 2004 to 2013.

Canada’s changing innovation landscape

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Md. Razib Alam ◽  
Bonwoo Koo ◽  
Brian Paul Cozzarin
Keyword(s):  
The United States ◽  
Destination Country ◽  
Firm Level ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Patent Classification ◽  
The Usa ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The University ◽  
Over Time

Abstract Our objective is to study Canada’s patenting activity over time in aggregate terms by destination country, by assignee and destination country, and by diversification by country of destination. We collect bibliographic patent data from the Canadian Intellectual Property Office and the United States Patent and Trademark Office. We identify 19,957 matched Canada–US patents, 34,032 Canada-only patents, and 43,656 US-only patents from 1980 to 2014. Telecommunications dominates in terms of International Patent Classification technologies for US-only and Canada–US patents. At the firm level, the greatest number of matched Canada–US patents were granted in the field of telecommunications, at the university level in pharmaceuticals, at the government level in control and instrumentation technology, and at the individual level in civil engineering. We use entropy to quantify technological diversification and find that diversification indices decline over time for Canada and the USA; however, all US indices decline at a faster rate.

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