J. Michael Oakes
Commentary: Individual, ecological and multilevel fallacies
University of Minnesota
new paper drs subramanian jones kaddour krieger hereinafter authors contains many important subtle insights fallacies singlelevel research individual ecological level authors urge epidemiologists consider contexts multilevel phenomena investigating explaining population health also criticize late william robinson classic 1950 paper methodological individualism mi research paradigm support comes historical anecdotes theory reanalysis robinsons data assuming understood properly full agreement primary aim new paper epidemiologists especially interested effect social forces health consider contexts multilevel phenomena general proposition also agree critical examination scientists culture history personal motivation enlightening authors scholarship matters merits careful study hand find authors critique robinson paper unhelpful critique mi misguided importantly authors conflate multilevel thinking socalled multilevel regression model offer readers questionable advice goal explain disagreements hopes stimulating critical thinking multilevel phenomena research improvement population health