Summer SAVY, Session 4 Day 3, “Social Determinants of Health: How Communities and Policies Impact Well-Being” (7th-8th)
Day 3 of our Social Determinants of Health course was all about exploring research and publicly available data related to the social determinants of health. It was an engaging and insightful day, packed with hands-on learning and thoughtful discussions.
We began by learning about what research is and learning the difference between qualitative and quantitative data, and why it is important in Public Health and studying social determinants. To better understand quantitative and qualitative data. We did a fun and simple exercise: everyone answered the question, “What is the best fruity candy?” Our results showed that 40% of the class picked Sour Patch Kids as their top choice. This quick poll was fun while also demonstrating the complexities of data collection. We reflected on the importance of ensuring everyone has the tools they need to participate fully, such as pens, pencils, and paper. We also reviewed limitations, such as the possibility that the question was confusing, since a participant wrote in the answer “caramel”. This simple exercise showed us why collecting accurate data requires careful planning and thoughtful strategy, no matter how straightforward the question might seem.
After lunch, we shifted gears to explore some powerful publicly available datasets. We looked at the Point in Time Count for Nashville, which provides critical information about homelessness in our community, and the Map the Meal Gap interactive site by Feeding America, which provides accessible information about food insecurity across the United States. These resources helped ground our understanding in real-world issues and data.
Towards the end of the day, students began diving into their final project for the week: researching food insecurity in Nashville and crafting a policy recommendation to address it. They’ll be preparing to present their findings and proposals by the end of the week. To keep the conversation going at home, you could ask your student: What did you learn from the data about Nashville and food insecurity during your research? And which type of data do you prefer working with: quantitative or qualitative?
Looking forward to another great day together tomorrow!
-Rebecca