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Philosophical Problems with Social Research on Health Inequalities

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Abstract

This paper offers a realist critique of socialresearch on health inequalities. A conspectus of thefield of health inequalities research identifies twomain research approaches: the positivist quantitativesurvey and the interpretivist qualitative `casestudy'. We argue that both approaches suffer fromserious philosophical limitations. We suggest that aturn to realism offers a productive `third way' bothfor the development of health inequality research inparticular and for the social scientific understandingof the complexities of the social world in general.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research in Health & Social Care Section, Florence Nightingale School of Nursing, King's College London, University of London, London, UK

    Steven P. Wainwright

  2. Research in Health & Social Care Section, Florence Nightingale School of Nursing, King's College London, University of London, London, UK

    Angus Forbes

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  1. Steven P. Wainwright
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Correspondence to Steven P. Wainwright.

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Wainwright, S.P., Forbes, A. Philosophical Problems with Social Research on Health Inequalities. Health Care Analysis 8, 259–277 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009479515070

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