FairLab what makes a good life study

Authors

• Y Asada
• A Welna
• J Abelson
• E Blacksher
• M Danis
• M Gold
• SYH Kim

Abstract

Social disadvantage is an important concept academics use to inform health disparities research and policy. However, it is unclear whether academic discussions align with lay persons’ views. The overall objective of the proposed study is to draw insights from the public about the concept of social disadvantage through community dialogues. To accomplish this objective, we aim to: (1) examine lay persons’ views on a good life; (2) examine lay persons’ views on hardships that prevent a good life; (3) examine shared views on hardships among a group of lay persons; (4) investigate what group dialogue adds to individual thoughts by contrasting individual and shared views on hardships; (5) assess in what way lay persons’ views on good life and hardships, both individually and collectively, align with or differ from philosophical theories and conceptual underpinnings of existing health policies; and (6) evaluate advantages and disadvantages of LEGO SERIOUS PLAY (LSP) as a method to explore lay persons’ views on value-laden concepts. The proposed study is a deliberation study using LSP, a facilitated thinking technique for small groups. The study population is a convenience sample of about 100 members of the general public in Maryland. Two trained facilitators will run approximately 10 LSP groups with five to ten participants. We will primarily use qualitative methods to analyze transcribed data of audio-recording of participants’ stories and compare emergent themes to those within the academic literature. Findings of this study will enrich the concept of social disadvantage in health disparities research and policy.

Scientific Focus Area: Health Disparities

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