Public Health Law Research: Theory and Methods

Abstract

This book, published in 2013 by Jossey-Bass, describes scientific theory and methods for investigating the development, implementation and effects of public health law. The empirical study of law can be conducted in many disciplines, so there is no special science of public health law research. Epidemiology, economics, physiology, and sociology do not change when law is the topic of investigation. That said, there are unique challenges to studying law, and a set of theory, measurement and research design tools that specifically help to meet those challenges. This book is not a general primer on scientific research methods. Its focus is on the problems that tend to arise in public health law research – and their solutions. It is intended for many kinds of readers: experienced social science researchers who are interested in adding public health law research to their repertoire; experienced health scientists who wish to expand their research from interventions at the individual or small group levels to community or society-wide “treatments” operating through law; legal scholars interested in how scientists approach the study of law; policy analysts seeking improved ability to assess the methods behind empirical evaluations of laws and policies; students and novice scientists who can hone their general skills through the study of public health law; and non-scientists who are seeking a general orientation to PHLR.

Part I is an introduction to the basic concepts of the field of PHLR. Part II presents a rich collection of theories and concepts that researchers have used to study how law influences behavior – the mechanisms or processes through which a rule manages to have measurable effects on what people do and how they fare. Part III is devoted to special questions of measurement that arise when law is the independent variable. Part IV considers the various study designs for public health law research.

Keywords: research methods, empirical legal studies, health