Black = 0 White = 1

Racial and ethnic variables are routinely used in health services re­search. However there is a growing debate within health services about the usefulness of these variables in research. A qualitative study was undertaken (July 2004 - November 2004) to ascertain how health services researchers conceptualize and operationalize racial and ethnic data and what role if any that funding agencies and journal editors contribute to the collection of racial and ethnic data.This book discusses the results of interviews with health services researchers funding agency administrators and journal editors. Based on the findings of these interviews we need a shift in thinking about how to use racial and ethnic variables in research.