Statistical Generalizations in Epidemiology: Philosophical Analysis

Federica Russo

doi:10.1007/978-94-024-2252-8_39

Statistical Generalizations in Epidemiology: Philosophical Analysis

Federica Russo^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

Epidemiology studies the variations in health in populations, according to different factors and parameters. In this field, probability and statistics are used in order to provide a quantitative description and analysis of the variations in exposure and disease, as well as of the effects of possible preventatives. Thus, one goal of epidemiology is to establish statistical generalizations about health and disease in populations. Consequently, it is important to understand how statistical generalizations are established and what use one can make of them to establish medical knowledge or to design public health policies.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Handbook of the Philosophy of Medicine
Editors	Thomas Schramme, Mary Jean Walker
Publisher	Springer
Pages	1139-1154
Number of pages	16
ISBN (Electronic)	9789402422528
ISBN (Print)	9789402422511
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-024-2252-8_39
Publication status	Published - 1 Oct 2025

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 Springer Nature B.V.

Keywords

Confounding
Correlation vs Causation
Public health intervention
Reference class
Risk
Statistical generalization
Variation

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1007/978-94-024-2252-8_39

Cite this

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AB - Epidemiology studies the variations in health in populations, according to different factors and parameters. In this field, probability and statistics are used in order to provide a quantitative description and analysis of the variations in exposure and disease, as well as of the effects of possible preventatives. Thus, one goal of epidemiology is to establish statistical generalizations about health and disease in populations. Consequently, it is important to understand how statistical generalizations are established and what use one can make of them to establish medical knowledge or to design public health policies.

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KW - Correlation vs Causation

KW - Public health intervention

KW - Reference class

KW - Risk

KW - Statistical generalization

KW - Variation

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A2 - Walker, Mary Jean

PB - Springer

ER -

Statistical Generalizations in Epidemiology: Philosophical Analysis

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

UN SDGs

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