The Challenges of Quantitative Public Health Law Research

10 Pages Posted: 19 Jun 2010

See all articles by Scott Burris

Scott Burris

Center for Public Health Law Research, Temple University - James E. Beasley School of Law

Evan D. Anderson

Center for Public Health Initiatives, University of Pennsylvania

Date Written: June 18, 2010

Abstract

Public health law research (PHLR) has been defined as the scientific study of the relation of law and legal practices to population health. The scientific collection of legal data is a precondition for epidemiological or behavioral research in which law is the independent variable. This commentary discusses some of the challenges that arise out of efforts to reduce legal text into quantifiable data that can be used for statistical analysis. It does so while highlighting the strengths and key conceptual hurdles in a Spengler et. al. article analyzing the extent to which recreational user statutes insulate localities from liability when opening their land up for community activities. This commentary touches upon the importance of careful coding, transparency and study design as well as the intrinsic difficulty in quantifying indeterminate laws.

Keywords: Empirical legal studies, public health law, public health research

Suggested Citation

Burris, Scott C. and Anderson, Evan D., The Challenges of Quantitative Public Health Law Research (June 18, 2010). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1626929 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1626929

Scott C. Burris (Contact Author)

Center for Public Health Law Research, Temple University - James E. Beasley School of Law ( email )

1719 N. Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19122
United States
215-204-6576 (Phone)
215-204-1185 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://www.phlr.org

Evan D. Anderson

Center for Public Health Initiatives, University of Pennsylvania ( email )

Philadelphia, PA 19104
United States
2159000359 (Phone)

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