Measurement in Medicine Philoscb: Philosophical Essays on Assessment and Evaluation

Measurement in Medicine brings together for the first time a range of philosophical essays on topics in the philosophy of epidemiology, epistemology of measurement, the philosophy of health economics, and health policy that address pressing questions of assessment and evaluation in medicine. Ranging from questions about the methodology of measuring instruments to the role of measurement in health policy decisions, this volume spans the essential topics for anyone interested in understanding the philosophical issues at stake in the growing industry of health and health care evaluation. Book jacket Contents 6 Introduction • Leah M. McClimans 8 Part I: Measurement and Evidence-Based Medicine 18 1 How Evidence-Based Medicine Highlights Connections between Measurement and Evidence • Benjamin Smart 20 2 Can Causation Be Quantitatively Measured? • Alex Broadbent 38 3 Absolute Measures of Effectiveness • Jacob Stegenga and Aaron Kenna 52 4 A Causal Construal of Heritability Estimates • Zinhle Mncube 70 Part II: Measuring Instruments 88 5 A Theory of Measurement • Norman M. Bradburn, Nancy L. Cartwright, and Jonathan Fuller 90 6 Psychological Measures, Risk, and Values • Leah M. McClimans 106 7 The Epistemological Roles of Models in Health Science Measurement • Laura M. Cupples 124 8 Measuring the Pure Patient Experience • Eivind Engebretsen and Kristin Heggen 138 9 Measurement, Multiple Concurrent Chronic Conditions, and Complexity • Ross E. G. Upshur 150 Part III: Measurement and Policy 166 10 NICE’s Cost-Effectiveness Threshold • Gabriele Badano, Stephen John, and Trenholme Junghans 168 11 Cost Effectiveness • Daniel M. Hausman 186 12 The Value of Statistical Lives and the Valuing of Life • Michael Dickson 204 13 How Good Decisions Result in Bad Outcomes • Anya Plutynski 218 Index 232 About the Contributors 240 This volume introduces readers to the main philosophical issues of measurement in medicine, illustrating the connections between the natural and social sciences by integrating essays on causation, measuring instruments and issues of measurement and policy.