The fallacy of the ecological fallacy: The potential misuse of a concept and the consequences

S. Schwartz

American Journal of Public Health, 1994, vol. 84, issue 5, 819-824

Abstract: Ecological studies have been evaluated in epidemiological contexts in terms of the 'ecological fallacy.' Although the empirical evidence for a lack of comparability between correlations derived from ecological- and individual-level analyses is compelling, the conceptual meaning of the ecological fallacy remains problematic. This paper argues that issues in cross-level inference can be usefully conceptualized as validity problems, problems not peculiar to ecological-level analyses. Such an approach increases the recognition of both potential inference problems in individual- level studies and the unique contributions of ecological variables. This, in turn, expands the terrain for the location of causes for disease and interventions to improve the public's health.

Date: 1994
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:1994:84:5:819-824_5

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