Sociology of Health & Illness
ASSIGNMENT GUIDANCE
ESSAY TITLE – due 29th March 12 noon,
3000 words
“A critical discussion of the sociology of health and illness of…”
The assessment encourages students to direct their learning towards a specific topic they have interest in, feel passionate about and/or have experience of.
Could be a “critical discussion” of a physical or mental illness e.g.
PHYSICAL
Cancer (of various types)
Heart Disease & Strokes (of various types)
Arthritis (of various types)
Diabetes (Types I & II)
Lung & Breathing problems
Epilepsy
MENTAL
Schizophrenia
Bi-Polar Disorder
Depression
Anxiety
Suicide
Self-Harm
Eating Disorders
Dementia
3
Could be a “critical discussion” of a DISABILITY
PHYSICAL
Sight
Hearing
Mobility (e.g. Paraplegia)
MENTAL
Down's Syndrome
Cerebral Palsy
Autism
Dyselxia
4
The distinction between
PHYSICAL or MENTAL
The distinction is not always clear-cut:
People with physical illnesses sometimes become depressed because of their illness
People with mental illness can develop physical side-effects of treatment (e.g. with anti-psychotic medication)
With some illnesses it's not clear whether they should be classified as physical or mental e.g. CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROMES (sometimes called Myalgic Encephalomyelitis ME)
5
The “critical discussion” could also be of a more general sociological theme e.g.
The SICK ROLE
Whether the NHS is “in crisis”
Whether there is a “crisis” in mental health services
Ethnic minority health
Health in other countries
- As long as you agree the theme with me, it’s OK!
The BLACKBOARD material is organised in 4 themes of the sociology of health and illness
its social determinants (including health inequalities);
the experience of illness;
its organisation in terms of health and social care;
its relationship to political activism, social movements and pressure groups.
1. SOCIAL DETERMINANTS may include
DESCRIPTIONS of:
SOCIAL CLASS
AGE
GENDER
ETHNICITY
SEXUALITY
8
1. SOCIAL Determinants may include:
CRITICAL DISCUSSIONS of relevant THEORY related to:
HEALTH INEQUALITIES & SOCIAL CLASS
The SOCIAL GRADIENT
RACISM
SEXISM
POWER
MEDICAL & SOCIAL MODELS
9
2. ORGANISATION of Health & Social Care may include:
DESCRIPTIONS of:
NHS organisations such as the NATIONAL INSTITUTE of HEALTH & CLINICAL EXCELLENCE (NICE)
Comparisons with other health care systems (eg. USA)
Elements of GLOBALISATION including the role of the WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION (WHO)
10
2. ORGANISATION of Health & Social Care may include:
CRITICAL DISCUSSIONS of relevant THEORY related to:
RISK
SURVEILLANCE
BUREAUCRACY
11
3. The EXPERIENCE of illness may include:
DESCRIPTIONS of:
Individuals experiences of illness through written accounts, websites, any material in the public domain
Individual experiences as given in academic texts
Your own personal experience
Cultural representations including cinema, TV and art
12
3. The EXPERIENCE of illness may include:
CRITICAL.
Sociology of Health & IllnessASSIGNMENT GUIDANCEESSAY .docx
1. Sociology of Health & Illness
ASSIGNMENT GUIDANCE
ESSAY TITLE – due 29th March 12 noon,
3000 words
“A critical discussion of the sociology of health and illness
of…”
The assessment encourages students to direct their learning
towards a specific topic they have interest in, feel passionate
about and/or have experience of.
Could be a “critical discussion” of a physical or mental illness
e.g.
PHYSICAL
Cancer (of various types)
Heart Disease & Strokes (of various types)
Arthritis (of various types)
Diabetes (Types I & II)
Lung & Breathing problems
Epilepsy
MENTAL
Schizophrenia
Bi-Polar Disorder
Depression
Anxiety
Suicide
2. Self-Harm
Eating Disorders
Dementia
3
Could be a “critical discussion” of a DISABILITY
PHYSICAL
Sight
Hearing
Mobility (e.g. Paraplegia)
MENTAL
Down's Syndrome
Cerebral Palsy
Autism
Dyselxia
4
The distinction between
PHYSICAL or MENTAL
The distinction is not always clear-cut:
People with physical illnesses sometimes become depressed
because of their illness
People with mental illness can develop physical side-effects of
treatment (e.g. with anti-psychotic medication)
With some illnesses it's not clear whether they should be
classified as physical or mental e.g. CHRONIC FATIGUE
SYNDROMES (sometimes called Myalgic Encephalomyelitis
3. ME)
5
The “critical discussion” could also be of a more general
sociological theme e.g.
The SICK ROLE
Whether the NHS is “in crisis”
Whether there is a “crisis” in mental health services
Ethnic minority health
Health in other countries
- As long as you agree the theme with me, it’s OK!
The BLACKBOARD material is organised in 4 themes of the
sociology of health and illness
its social determinants (including health inequalities);
the experience of illness;
its organisation in terms of health and social care;
its relationship to political activism, social movements and
pressure groups.
1. SOCIAL DETERMINANTS may include
DESCRIPTIONS of:
SOCIAL CLASS
AGE
GENDER
ETHNICITY
4. SEXUALITY
8
1. SOCIAL Determinants may include:
CRITICAL DISCUSSIONS of relevant THEORY related to:
HEALTH INEQUALITIES & SOCIAL CLASS
The SOCIAL GRADIENT
RACISM
SEXISM
POWER
MEDICAL & SOCIAL MODELS
9
2. ORGANISATION of Health & Social Care may include:
DESCRIPTIONS of:
NHS organisations such as the NATIONAL INSTITUTE of
HEALTH & CLINICAL EXCELLENCE (NICE)
Comparisons with other health care systems (eg. USA)
Elements of GLOBALISATION including the role of the
WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION (WHO)
5. 10
2. ORGANISATION of Health & Social Care may include:
CRITICAL DISCUSSIONS of relevant THEORY related to:
RISK
SURVEILLANCE
BUREAUCRACY
11
3. The EXPERIENCE of illness may include:
DESCRIPTIONS of:
Individuals experiences of illness through written accounts,
websites, any material in the public domain
Individual experiences as given in academic texts
Your own personal experience
Cultural representations including cinema, TV and art
12
3. The EXPERIENCE of illness may include:
CRITICAL DISCUSSIONS of relevant THEORY related to:
The sociology of the BODY:
- FEMINISM
- GOFFMAN
- FOUCAULT
13
6. 3. The EXPERIENCE of illness may include
CRITICAL DISCUSSIONS of relevant THEORY related to:
The SICK ROLE
CHRONIC ILLNESS & BIOGRAPHY
ILLNESS NARRATIVES
STIGMA
14
4. POLITICAL ACTIVISM & SOCIAL MOVEMENTS may
include:
DESCRIPTIONS of:
Government policies and arguments about them
The power of the medical profession and how it is resisted
Relevant social movements, pressure groups and their activism
and beliefs
Relevant websites are useful for describing all of the above
Aspects of GLOBALISATION
Disability & Human Rights
15
4. POLITICAL ACTIVISM & SOCIAL MOVEMENTS may
include:
CRITICAL DISCUSSIONS of relevant THEORY:
Definitions of Social Movements & Pressure Groups
Identity Politics & Intersectionality
Marxism
Feminism
Disability & Human Rights
7. 16
Key Resources:
electronically available text books
17
Key Resources:
electronically available textbooks
18
Key Resources:
electronically available textbooks
Try to include references from at least 2 of these text books
19
Key Resources: Blackboard
8. Learning Materials has folders on all four themes consisting of:
1. Lecture slideshows
2. Readings from academic journals
3. Links to relevant websites
The slideshows provide an overview to topics; the readings and
websites include material that can be quoted and referenced in
your assignment
20
Key Resources:
Your Independent Research
Because you will focus upon one health condition, disability or
issue you should do some independent research on it through
Google and Google Scholar. Through this you will find:
Academic articles via Google Scholar
Pressure groups and campaign groups own websites as well as
government publication via Google
21
Number of References
Textbooks + Blackboard resources + independent research
should yield 15 or more references. Remember that if you use a
website then that is a valid reference.
9. 22
Examples from the past
Breast cancer and feminist activism
The social determinants of chronic fatigue syndrome
Schizophrenia amongst ethnic minority communities
The social determinants and experience of anorexia
The organisation and experience of psychotherapy in the UK
The Zika virus and the World Health Organisations response to
it
Heart disease and the social gradient in health with a particular
focus upon social class
Raw DataRegionDateSalesUnits ProducedLabor
HoursCostComplaintsCost/UnitProductivity (Unit/Labor
Hr)Gross MarginProfit/ UnitOld Facility29-Sep-
14$30,95315455156$10,72224$0.699965.36%$1.31Old
Facility29-Sep-
14$30,92315380152$10,77022$0.7010165.17%$1.30Old
Facility30-Sep-
14$30,87615459157$10,74827$0.709965.19%$1.30Old
Facility30-Sep-
14$30,93115407153$10,95327$0.7110164.59%$1.29Old
Facility01-Oct-
14$30,88415450153$10,94917$0.7110164.55%$1.29Old
Facility01-Oct-
14$30,92615343154$10,78722$0.7010065.12%$1.30Old
Facility02-Oct-
14$30,90115422150$10,90423$0.7110364.71%$1.29Old
Facility02-Oct-
14$30,88915364155$10,59426$0.699965.70%$1.31Old
Facility03-Oct-
14$30,88715346154$10,72529$0.7010065.28%$1.31Old
Facility03-Oct-
53. We would invest $10,000 in a new piece of equipment at the old
facility in order to accurately control the bake time. We think
this is important as every cookie tested was above the upper
specification limit after approximately December 27, 2014. The
company sales are reflexing this change in a decrease in sales.
By investing the $10,000 the hope would be to see the increase
of revenue that would ultimately be able to justify the cost of
the new equipment.
Upon further evaluation of the data set, we noted that the
number of complaints increased as the date range was further
out, as well as sales steadily decreasing over the data date
range.
By having the further data set of the process variables, we were
able to focus on the large number of complaints within the old
facility that were identified in the analysis of the raw data. We
evaluated each process variable by facility (new and old)
separately and created a scatter plot by date. The red lines in
the below graphs are the upper standard limit and the lower
standard limits. To view all graphs review the excel spread
sheet. We found a large variation in bake time above the upper
standard limit of 10.25 minutes at the old facility. See the
below graph.
To analyze this data, we created a scatter plot comparing bake
time and complaints. The scatter plot shows a positive
relationship—as the bake time increased, the number of
complaints increased. To analyze this data further a regression
model was completed to evaluate if there was a correlation
54. between bake time within the old facility and the number of
complaints. The R Square was 0.8512, which indicates that this
would be an appropriate model to evaluate the correlation
between bake time and complaints. Also, the P-Value was 9.9E-
109, which indicates that there is a statistical significance and
correlation between these two variables.
Next, we wanted to see the correlation between sales and bake
time. We created a scatter plot with a trend line, which showed
a negative correlation trend—As sales decreased, bake time
increased. To analyze if there is a true correlation between the
two variables a regression model was created. The R Square was
0.53, which shows that 53% of the data fit the regression model.
The P-value is also less than 0.05—9.9E-109, which shows a
statistical significance between the two variables of sales and
bake time.
Moving forward, I would review the process at the old facility
for bake time. Looking at the new facility, they are maintaining
their bake time with the lower and upper standard; therefore, I
would review their process to see what would be needed to
replicate that process at the old facility.
Old Facility: Sales and Bake Time
Sales 10.028619079277108 10.099397900467912
10.018878961666674 10.048544138291827
10.023935318624712 10.089487251959676
9.9128911915935802 10.04241382731117
10.106175759199379 10.088620406603017