Aspinall P J
South East Institute of Public Health, United Medical School, Guy's Hospital, Tunbridge Wells, U.K.
Soc Sci Med. 1997 Sep;45(5):689-98. doi: 10.1016/s0277-9536(96)00386-3.
"Ethnic group" is a problematic variable in health-related research. While self-identification is now widely accepted as the appropriate mode of assignment, the impracticalities of a free response in the collection of ethnic group data mean that categorisation into a limited set of choices must take place. The substantial and increasing number of persons in minority ethnic groups who identify through non-standard responses emphasises the need to develop classifications that accommodate salient vernacular terminology. The use of informants in cognitive settings and the monitoring of open-ended responses appear to offer the best way of determining which group labels to employ. The recommended approach addresses the research priorities for accurate, consistent, and high quality data and is also responsive to the dynamic nature of ethnic group and the growing ethnic diversity of the population.
“种族群体”是健康相关研究中的一个有问题的变量。虽然自我认同现在已被广泛接受为合适的归类方式，但在收集种族群体数据时采用自由回答方式不切实际，这意味着必须将其归类为有限的一组选择。越来越多的少数族裔群体中的人通过非标准回答来进行自我认同，这凸显了开发能够容纳突出方言术语的分类方法的必要性。在认知环境中使用信息提供者以及对开放式回答进行监测，似乎是确定应采用哪些群体标签的最佳方式。所推荐的方法解决了获取准确、一致和高质量数据的研究重点问题，同时也能应对种族群体的动态性质以及人口中日益增长的种族多样性。
