Medical Sociology/Gallup
Cli􀅌on, J. Blind Spot (2022) Washington DC, Gallup Press. 339 pages.
INTRODUCTION
The Gallup organiza􀆟on has thousands of interviewers all over the
world that have interacted with numerous individuals in all countries
that allow such ac􀆟vity. It is a measure of feelings of depression,
anxiety and physical pain and therefore the impact of these condi􀆟ons
on social interac􀆟on. This fits nicely in the area of medical sociology and
social psychiatry .
DESCRIPTION AND DISCUSSION
The basic tool of gathering informa􀆟on is a picture of an 11 step ladder
that can become useful in both face to face and through electronic
communica􀆟ons. It does not have a zero point so it is not a ra􀆟o scale.
However each step on the ladder is equidistant from above and below,
therefore it is an interval measure defined as a “Thurstone” scale. That
means that not all calcula􀆟ons can be conducted which is a ra􀆟o
measure. One cannot calculate an average, but can use a median. It
appears to be acceptable for this study.
Basically, the researcher asks respondents where on the ladder are you
now and how do you feel? Then where do you think you will be located
on the ladder in 10 years?
There are a number of side bars. Most book reviewers describe only
certain areas. By the way, “thriving” is an overall, but cau􀆟ous term for
happy and “suffering “is the measure that is self explanatory. At the
􀆟me of this wri􀆟ng, third world countries suffer and Scandinavian
countries are the highest in terms of thriving. They are social
democra􀆟c capitalist countries with a strong mix of both private and
public health care. In plain language, the research organiza􀆟on wants to
know about the individual’s work, finance, sense of belonging in a
community, their physical health and person’s life in small groups like a
family.
CONCLUSION
There is a significant drop in most areas in the last 10 years. Gallup
uses a graph similar to economic and demographic ones to quan􀆟fy the
downward trend. This means more depression or related has
increased. If this trend con􀆟nues there are some numbers that would
be able to support statements about the condi􀆟on that perhaps an elite
of a country would not appreciate. Or, por􀆟ons of the na􀆟on would be
able to focus their efforts on. This is an important part of the human
condi􀆟on. Further, this is a worthwhile book.
Prof.Joel Snell (Ret.)
Kirkwood College
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
joelsnell@hotmail.com/