Sex contextualism in laboratory research: Enhancing rigor and precision in the study of sex-related variables
Summary
Understanding sex-related variation in health and illness requires rigorous and precise approaches to revealing underlying mechanisms. A first step is to recognize that sex is not in and of itself a causal mechanism; rather, it is a classification system comprising a set of categories, usually assigned according to a range of varying traits. Moving beyond sex as a system of classification to working with concrete and measurable sex-related variables is necessary for precision. Whether and how these sex-related variables matter—and what patterns of difference they contribute to—will vary in context-specific ways. Second, when researchers incorporate these sex-related variables into research designs, rigorous analytical methods are needed to allow strongly supported conclusions. Third, the interpretation and reporting of sex-related variation require care to ensure that basic and preclinical research advance health equity for all.
Keywords
- sex as a biological variable
- sex differences
- precision medicine
- gender
- sex contextualism
- health equity
- rigor and reproducibility in science
- research methods
Authors
Links
Publication information
Institutions:
Authors:
Madeleine Pape, Miriam Miyagi, Stacey A. Ritz, Marion Boulicault, Sarah S. Richardson, Donna L. Maney
Publisher:
Elsevier, Cell Volume 187, Issue 6, 14 March 2024, pp. 1316-1326
Languages:
English
Media Type:
City:
Amsterdam
Year:
20214
Themes:
Disciplines:
Research labels:
Health – medicine
Epistemology – theory – methodology
Subjects:
Gender Studies, Sociology, Biology, Medicine, Philosophy, History, Psychology
Genres:
Article