Aditi Rudrashetty

Research Critique

06/03/23

Dr. Todd Shaw

The first article that is focused on for this research critique is “Health & Place” by Molly

M. Scott, Tamara Dubowitz, and Deborah A. Cohen. This article examines the relationship

between urban sprawl, neighborhood characteristics, and walking behavior in relation to body

mass index (BMI) among African American people and White people. While urban sprawl has

been linked to higher rates of obesity due to its negative impact on physical activity, this study

explores the how African Americans, who despite live in urban neighborhoods with good street

connectivity and walking destinations, still suffer from higher obesity rates. The researchers

analyzed data from a sample of White people and African American people in Los Angeles

County and southern Louisiana, considering factors such as neighborhood safety, street

connectivity, walking destinations, and individual characteristics. The study is able to highlight

the relationship between neighborhood design, race, and obesity, and brings to light the need for

further research in this area.

The purpose of this article (1) appears to be to test a theory. The authors aim to examine

the relationship between neighborhood characteristics, walking behavior, and BMI among White

people and African American people in different regions. The main research problem/research

question of the article (2) is whether differences in neighborhood characteristics explain regional

variations in walking behavior and BMI among White people and African American people. The

authors see the significance of the research question (3) in understanding the role of how despite
African American people living in urban neighborhoods, they still suffer disproportionately from

obesity. The authors contribute to the body of scholarly knowledge (3) by investigating the

impact of built environments on health outcomes in different racial/ethnic groups. The major

theory or paradigm employed by the authors (4) is the link between urban sprawl and obesity.

They explore the idea that poor street connectivity and lack of walking destinations in

neighborhoods can discourage an active lifestyle and contribute to obesity. The method used in

the study (5) involved telephone interviews with a randomly sampled population of White people

and African American people in Los Angeles County and southern Louisiana. The researchers

collected data (5) on walking behavior, BMI, neighborhood safety perceptions, neighborhood

destinations, neighborhood design, and neighborhood socioeconomic status.

The major findings of the study (6) were that while the built environment partly

explained regional differences in walking and BMI among White people, the effect was modest.

However, there were no regional differences in outcomes for African American people.

Individual characteristics rather than neighborhood characteristics served as the best predictors

for African Americans. In terms of critique (7), there is room for improvement in the clarity of

the methodology section. The authors could have provided more detailed information about the

sampling process, participant recruitment, and the specific statistical analyses conducted.

The second article that is focused on for this research critique is Chapter 1 of the textbook

“Uneven Roads.” This chapter examines how race developed as a social construct (in Europe and

the Americas) and interprets demographic and economic data on the racial status of different

groups.

The purpose of this article (1) seems to be to present facts and also discover findings that

might lead to a theory. This is because this chapter provides us with working definitions and
theories of race, racism, and ethnicity. The main research problem/question of this chapter (2) is

if race matters, especially in terms of U.S. politics and economics. The author, Dr. Todd Shaw,

finds this research significant (3) not only because he studies the field of politic science but also

because this is something that effects our futures. The contribution this work is making to the

body of scholarly knowledge is showing how race plays a part in classification and citizenship.

The major theory that the author is employing (4) in this chapter is laying out the groundwork to

explain why and how race has had an impact on racial/ethnic group’s status. All of the data (5) is

pulled from the U.S. Census Bureau and are used to find a lot of the statistics discussed. The

major findings (6) from this data contribute to the levels of racialization (when racial/ethnic

minorities have very limited citizenship rights/opportunities because of racial ordering) and how

the dominant society establishes many roadblock/strong barriers.

When it comes to critique on this chapter (7), there is not much that is needed for

improvement. The only suggestion would be updating this section periodically to account for

recent events and elections that may take place and influence this data.