Equity Goals Research Articles

OER Textbooks: A Helpful Tool for DEI Initiatives in Higher Education

This is a policy paper that discusses the contributions of open educational resource (OER) textbooks to the success of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in institutions of higher education. DEI is often identified by universities as an institutional goal; however, it is usually addressed at the institutional level by large scale university initiatives and programs. The question addressed herein is how can faculty contribute on an individual level to the success of higher education DEI goals? One very practical tool that can help is the use of (OER) textbooks at the individual course level. Expanding student access to educational resources has the potential to make a significant contribution to the success of diversity, equity, and inclusion goals.

“We went in favor of rebellion”: The decisions that made India’s Annual Status of Education Report (ASER)

The Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) is a monitoring and evaluation (M&E) effort that examines primary education and children’s learning across rural India. ASER has become an influential M&E model, especially among civil society organizations in Global South countries. Created by the Indian non-governmental organization Pratham, ASER’s dual origins in grassroots educational programming and national policymaking have distinctly shaped its methodology and goals. This study examines the cumulative decisions that produced ASER’s innovative design through the narratives of ASER’s three main architects. The architects tell stories that highlight their design decisions—decisions that reflect not only their expertise in the technical aspects of data collection, but also their knowledge of India's context, cultures, and politics. The study concludes that examining the history of M&E regimes is valuable in assessing their data’s validity and usefulness for achieving educational equity and quality goals.

Low socioeconomic status students transitioning from Vocational Education and Training (VET) to university: examining definitions of success

ABSTRACT Within Australia, Vocational Education and Training (VET) is promoted as a pathway for low socioeconomic status (LSES) students to enter Higher Education (HE). However, greater equity will only occur if these students achieve successful university outcomes. But how should such success be defined? This paper examined two data sources (i.e., nine years of archival achievement data from one multi-campus Australian university, 18 qualitative interviews with LSES VET students who had transitioned to HE) to consider varying measures of this group’s success. Quantitative achievement measures indicated that although VET-entry students performed as well as or better than those entering based on secondary school results, LSES students had systematically lower academic achievement across both groups, suggesting equity goals are yet to be realised. While interviewed students frequently mentioned grades, they also described seeing improvement, making connections, experiencing satisfaction and growing confidence as markers of success. Data highlighted the negative consequences some LSES VET students experienced when grades were viewed as the sole metric of success. Findings suggest it is important for universities to continue to promote VET pathways and normalise diverse conceptions of success to encourage persistence when academic achievement goals are not immediately reached.

The Ecology of Engagement: Fostering cooperative efforts in health with patients and communities.

Patients and community members are engaged in nearly every aspect of health systems. However, the engagement literature remains siloed and fragmented, which makes it difficult to connect engagement efforts with broader goals of health, equity and sustainability. Integrated and inclusive models of engagement are needed to support further transformative efforts. This article describes the Ecology of Engagement, an integrated model of engagement. The model posits that: (1) Health ecosystems include all members of society engaged in health; (2) Engagement is the 'together' piece of health and healthcare (e.g., caring for each other, preventing, researching, teaching and building policies together); (3) Health ecosystems and engagement are interdependent from each other, both influencing health, equity, resilience and sustainability. The Ecology of Engagement offers a common sketch to foster dialogue on engagement across health ecosystems. The model can drive cooperative efforts with patients and communities on health, equity, resilience and sustainability. Three of the authors have lived experiences as patients. One has a socially disclosed identity as a patient partner leader with extensive experience in engagement (individual care, education, research, management andpolicy). Two authors have significant experience as patients and informal caregivers, which were mobilized in descriptive illustrations. A fourth author has experience as an engaged citizen in health policy debates. All authors have professional lived experience in health (manager, researcher, health professional, consultant andeducator). Six patient and caregiver partners with lived experience of engagement (other than the authors) contributed important revisions and intellectual content.

“Gendered differences versus doing gender”: a systematic review on the role of gender in CSCL

Gender equity in education is an essential UN sustainable development goal. However, it is unclear what aspects of gender are important to consider in regard to research outcomes as well as how findings can be interpreted in the context of gender stereotypes and bias. This lack of clarity is particularly salient in the STEM field. Computer-supported collaborative learning (CSCL) is a group learning method where learners work together on group tasks that aim at the sharing and co-construction of knowledge. Aside from the cognitive learning gains, the literature reports that CSCL can bring social and psychological benefits, such as fostering positive mutual relationships and increased understanding of equity and diversity. In order to elaborate on the assumed potential of CSCL to support equity and diversity goals in education, this systematic literature will focus on the role of gender in CSCL. Although gender issues in CSCL have been examined before, a comprehensive overview is still lacking. Based on the PRISMA method, the current systematic review considers 27 articles, and explores (1) how gender is addressed, (2) what findings concerning gender are reported, and (3) the potential of CSCL to create more gender inclusive learning contributing to the UN SDGs. Our findings show that most studies addressed gender as a binary predictor for participation, communication, or attitude. Less than half of the studies treated gender more nuanced by defining gender as a social construct. This review highlights the need for additional research on the role of gender in CSCL, alongside more methodologies that can account for the complexities this entails. It is estimated that there is some potential for CSCL to decrease gender stereotypes and gender bias in STEM education.

Addressing Health Equity Goals for COVID-19 Vaccination Using Integrated Data and Mapping Tools: A Collaboration Between Academia, Public Health, and Health Care Systems in Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio.

Context:Data sharing between local health departments and health care systems is challenging during public health crises. In early 2021, the supply of COVID-19 vaccine was limited, vaccine appointments were difficult to schedule, and state health departments were using a phased approach to determine who was eligible to get the vaccine.Program:Multiple local health departments and health care systems with the capacity for mobile and pop-up vaccine clinics came together in Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio, with a common objective to coordinate where, when, and how to set up mobile/pop-up COVID-19 vaccine clinics. To support this objective, the Equity Mapping Tool, which is a set of integrated tools, workflows, and processes, was developed, implemented, and deployed in partnership with an academic institution.Implementation:The Equity Mapping Tool was designed after a rapid community engagement phase. Our analytical approaches were informed by community engagement activities, and we translated the Equity Mapping Tool for stakeholders, who typically do not share timely and granular data, to build capacity for data-enabled decision making.Discussion:We discuss our observations related to the sustainability of the Equity Mapping Tool, lessons learned for public health scientists/practitioners, and future directions for extending the Equity Mapping Tool to other jurisdictions and public health crises.

Exploring representation (EDI) in Students as Partners (SaP) initiatives: a case study of equity, diversity and inclusion in the Students as Partners Program (SaPP) at Carleton University

ABSTRACT Students as Partners (SaP) initiatives have been gaining traction in the past decade, and many institutions are praising the SaP model as a method to enhance collaborative, reciprocal, and equitable learning. In this paper, we offer insights on student and faculty experiences of the Students as Partners Program (SaPP) at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada. Our research is motivated by the question: to what extent are Students as Partners Programs (SaPP) compatible with goals of equity, diversity and inclusion? We take a qualitative, case study approach to explore student (n = 51), and faculty (n = 67), experiences of the Students as Partners Program in 2020. Our findings reveal strong participation by students with a disability, and female, and BIPOC students, and an overrepresentation of white, able-bodied participants at the faculty level. To improve EDI in SaP initiatives, we share recommendations from student and faculty participation.

Building Palliative Care Quality Improvement Team Cohesion

Background: The Palliative Care: Promoting Access in International Cancer Experience initiative (PC-PAICE) partnered with seven regionally diverse Indian palliative care (PC) sites to foster locally initiated quality improvement (QI) projects by training local teams on QI methods. We aimed to identify facilitators of QI team cohesion around team goals. Methodology: A quota sampling approach captured the perspectives of 44 stakeholders across 3 strata (organizational leaders, clinical leaders, and clinical team members) through a semi-structured interview guide informed by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). We used a combination of inductive and deductive approaches informed by theory to identify themes. Results: Theme 1: Allow a process to formalize and re-negotiate team roles and coordinate transfer of roles within the interdisciplinary PC team. Theme 2: Foster cross-disciplinary role agreement around shared and bounded QI project goals. Theme 3: Prioritize a non-hierarchical organizational climate of equity and respect for all PC team member involvement and input in the QI project work. Implications: Leveraging CFIR with role and team theories allowed us to identify facilitators of team cohesion, such as promoting a culture of equity and setting clear project goals. These insights demonstrate the value of team and role theories in implementation evaluation.

Societal Inequality and Business Organizations: A Dialogue Among Scholars and Practitioners

Panelists from a range of disciplinary backgrounds and academic and practitioner perspectives will address the growing attention to systemic inequality worldwide and the increasing demands that are being brought to bear on business organizations to mitigate such inequalities. Reflecting on recent inflection points that have made inequality more salient and visible, such as the murder of George Floyd that heightened concern about social and racial justice, panelists will discuss various ways academics and practitioners can work with business organizations to both strengthen the companies’ achievement of diversity, equity and inclusion goals and also help mitigate societal inequality. Panelist discussion will include the need to address issues of power and domination in the structure of intergroup relations that affect both every-day and long-term inequality in various contexts; strategies for business organizations to positively impact societal equality, for example by widening their base of stakeholders to include those representing the larger community and being more intentional about the organization’s influence on, and interaction with, the larger society; innovative research, grounded in moral psychology, that addresses resistance to anti-racist programs in business organizations; and the importance of bridging the gaps between organizational practices in the traditionally separate areas of Corporate Social Responsibility and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion by influencing companies and firms to implement consistent standards related to equity both inside and outside the organization.

Measuring diversity, equity and inclusion: a holistic approach

PurposeThis paper aims to explore how organizations can measure diversity, equity and inclusion, and what are the potential areas where they can take initiatives to meet the diversity, equity and inclusion goals.Design/methodology/approachThis paper explains the distinction among diversity, equity and inclusion. It elaborates on the separate perspectives that organizations need to adopt to define and measure each one of them. It consequently brings attention to their implications for research, practice and society.FindingsThis paper reveals that the goals of diversity, equity and inclusion, although related, need to be approached independently. The three concepts need to be measured individually and separate initiatives need to be designed and implemented to attain those goals.Originality/valueThis paper highlights the conceptual differences among diversity, equity and inclusion, and their evaluation. It underscores that diversity itself is not sufficient in ensuring organizational performance. Most of the discussion around implementing diversity pays little attention to steps that need to be taken to ensure equity and inclusion of the diverse workforce. This paper seeks to address this gap.

Evaluating Natural Experiments that Impact the Diabetes Epidemic: an Introduction to the NEXT-D3 Network.

Purpose of ReviewDiabetes is an ongoing public health issue in the USA, and, despite progress, recent reports suggest acute and chronic diabetes complications are increasing.Recent FindingsThe Natural Experiments for Translation in Diabetes 3.0 (NEXT-D3) Network is a 5-year research collaboration involving six academic centers (Harvard University, Northwestern University, Oregon Health & Science University, Tulane University, University of California Los Angeles, and University of California San Francisco) and two funding agencies (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Institutes of Health) to address the gaps leading to persisting diabetes burdens. The network builds on previously funded networks, expanding to include type 2 diabetes (T2D) prevention and an emphasis on health equity. NEXT-D3 researchers use rigorous natural experiment study designs to evaluate impacts of naturally occurring programs and policies, with a focus on diabetes-related outcomes.SummaryNEXT-D3 projects address whether and to what extent federal or state legislative policies and health plan innovations affect T2D risk and diabetes treatment and outcomes in the USA; real-world effects of increased access to health insurance under the Affordable Care Act; and the effectiveness of interventions that reduce barriers to medication access (e.g., decreased or eliminated cost sharing for cardiometabolic medications and new medications such as SGLT-2 inhibitors for Medicaid patients). Overarching goals include (1) expanding generalizable knowledge about policies and programs to manage or prevent T2D and educate decision-makers and organizations and (2) generating evidence to guide the development of health equity goals to reduce disparities in T2D-related risk factors, treatment, and complications.

Widening, Narrowing, and Persistence of Socioeconomic Gaps between Sexual Minorities and Heterosexuals across Adulthood

ABSTRACT In socioeconomic attainment, same-sex sexuality (SSS) matters, as well as whether SSS is experienced in adolescence (early) or not until later in adulthood (late). Using data from 8912 participants of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, sexual minorities are identified as the early or late groups. Multilevel regression models were used to compare their income, occupational status, and education separately against heterosexuals, based on repeated measures taken in their 20s, 30s, and 40s. This study found a significant lag in high-school graduation compared to a subgroup of men in the early group that did not express same-sex sexuality in adulthood. Independently, “gay penalty” in income emerged for the late group as they entered their 30s, and persisted into their 40s. No socioeconomic gaps were observed for the women. To serve equity goals for all sexualities, closer attention needs to be given to those with an evolving history of same-sex sexuality.

Reducing or reproducing inequalities in health? An intersectional policy analysis of how health inequalities are represented in a Swedish bill on alcohol, drugs, tobacco and gambling

BackgroundAccording to post-structural policy analyses, policies and interventions aiming at reducing social inequalities have been found to be part in producing and reifying such inequalities themselves. Given the central role of health inequalities on the public health policy agenda globally it seems important to examine the way policy on health inequalities may potentially counteract the goal of health equity. The aim of this intersectional policy analysis, was to critically analyze the representation of health inequalities in a government bill proposing a national strategy on alcohol, drugs, tobacco and gambling, to examine its performative power, and to outline alternative representations.MethodA post-structural approach to policy analysis was combined with an intersectional framework. The material was analyzed through an interrogating process guided by the six questions of the “What’s the problem represented to be?” (WPR) approach. Thus, the underlying assumptions of the problem representation, its potential implications and historical background were explored. In a final step of the analysis we examined our own problem representations.ResultsThe recommendations found in the gender and equity perspective of the bill represented the problem of health inequalities as a lack of knowledge, with an emphasis on quantitative knowledge about differences in health between population groups. Three underlying assumptions supporting this representation were found: quantification and objectivity, inequalities as unidimensional, and categorization and labelling. The analysis showed how the bill, by opting into these partly overlapping assumptions, is part of enacting a discourse on health inequalities that directs attention to specific subjects (e.g., vulnerable) with special needs (e.g., health care), in certain places (e.g., disadvantaged neighborhoods). It also showed how underlying processes of marginalization are largely neglected in the bill due to its focus on describing differences rather than solutions. Finally, we showed how different intersectional approaches could be used to complement and challenge this, potentially counteractive, problem representation.ConclusionsThe problem representation of health inequalities and its underlying assumptions may have counteractive effects on health equity, and even though some of its strengths are raised, it seems to be profoundly entangled with a system resisting the kind of change that the bill itself advocates for. If carefully used, intersectionality has the potential to support a more comprehensive and inclusive equality-promoting public health policy and practice.

Norms, Equity and Social Protection: A Gender Analysis of the Productive Safety Net Programme in Ethiopia

Social protection programmes do not generally account for gendered power dynamics. Oftentimes, they target women only as beneficiaries, which can intensify gendered disparities. This case study uses a mixed methods research approach to conduct a gender analysis of the Productive Safety Net Programme in Ethiopia. We find the programme has progressive gender equity goals, but these are not well implemented. Since special provisions for women are neglected in the case study sites, they do not challenge unequal social norms nor recognize unequal roles and responsibilities. Alongside implementing the gendered provisions, we recommend further research into the ways that the programme can challenge discriminatory social norms.

Early intervention and special education in New York City: Patterns of service use and disparities affecting children of colour.

Compliance with the requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in the United States is monitored through review of cross-sectional reports from three discrete, age-defined programmes (early intervention [EI], early childhood special education [ECSE)] and school-age special education [SE]) to promote the timely, efficient and effective delivery of appropriate services to all eligible children. Analysis of longitudinal data is required to discern how children use services across programmes to provide the necessary context for IDEA oversight and to identify areas for programme or policy interventions to reduce barriers to service use and promote equity. We applied sequence analysis to a data linkage across five public record systems among 15 626 New York City children born in 1998 who had records from birth through third grade. Five predominant patterns of service use were identified: (1) multiple therapies across EI/ECSE/SE (13%), (2) EI without transition to Department of Education schools or services (24%), (3) EI and intermittent ECSE/SE (16%), (4) older entry into EI and both speech and occupational therapy throughout ECSE/SE (9%) and (5) limited EI use and mostly speech therapy in ECSE/SE (38%). Each pattern had distinct demographics (e.g., pattern 2 was disproportionately White and from low poverty neighbourhoods; pattern 4 was disproportionately male and Black; pattern 5 was disproportionately Latino) and academic outcomes (e.g., pattern 1 had largest proportion in a SE school and not tested in third grade; pattern 3 had third grade tests scores that were similar to overall citywide mean scores). The differences in demographic profiles across the five patterns of service use illustrate the systemic inequities in the delivery of these important services. Delayed entry and limited use of EI services among children of colour underscore the need for equity goals to increase early referral and optimize service use.

Structuring Equity Into Minnesota's COVID-19 Response: Lessons Learned and Future Investments.

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) integrated 3 intentional teams into their novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) response to ensure equity was not lost in the speed of response. These teams-the Cultural, Faith, and Disability Communities Branch, Tribal COVID-19 Healthcare Team, and Vaccine Equity Branch were able to reach communities through trusted partners, elevate the voices of communities most impacted, respect tribal sovereignty, establish equity leadership, and set equity goals and metrics. The top-down nature of incident command, combined with pre-COVID-19 systems and structures that impede equity, led to both barriers and opportunities for centering equity in response efforts. Inclusion of staff and community voice in decisions and guidance leads to better results; each community's unique needs have to be considered. Equity metrics and goals help direct resources to the most disadvantaged. State, local, and tribal public health infrastructure was built quickly and needs ongoing resources to be sustained. MDH is leveraging new funding to embed successful response structures into the organization. These structures are intended to build state, local, and tribal capacity and address systemic challenges at MDH. While equity can be incorporated into pandemic response and incident command structures, ongoing investment to support public health infrastructure is vital to sustaining equity.

Gender Variations and Inequity in Healthcare Financing in Nigeria

Healthcare is central to sustainable development, but it is underfunded in many developing countries like Nigeria. This study empirically examined gender variations and inequity in healthcare financing in Nigeria. It specifically analyzed inequity by gender and differences in healthcare financing among states in Nigeria using Dagum's approach for decomposition of the Gini coefficient. The data was sourced from the National Bureau of Statistics National Living Standard Survey. Empirical results showed that healthcare financing gender inequity exists in Nigeria. In addition, variations in healthcare financing inequity among states in Nigeria were found. It is recommended that different population groups be covered to achieve the broader equity and effectiveness goals when implementing healthcare financing reforms. Furthermore, governments in various states should step up efforts to assist disadvantaged and oppressed communities, such as poor indigenous people, in terms of healthcare utilization, which could reduce the healthcare financing burden. Keywords: Healthcare Financing, Inequity, Gini Coefficient, Gender Variation, Income Distribution

Diversity by design: Broadening participation through inclusive teaching

AbstractAlthough community colleges are increasingly diverse, student outcomes across demographics are not necessarily equitable, nor does the representation of student demographics in a given class always reflect the diversity of the greater institutional student population. To achieve colleges’ stated diversity and equity goals, we must broaden participation in our classrooms through inclusive teaching practices. This chapter shares the stories of four community college faculty change agents in STEM who have implemented inclusive teaching and broadening participation strategies. Specifically, the authors discuss how to build a sense of belonging, support classroom conversations on diversity, incorporate diverse perspectives into curricula, and broaden the participation and success of all students. Finally, the authors recommend actions for individual faculty, faculty communities of practice, institutions, and surrounding communities to spur culture change and help achieve diversity and equity through inclusion.

Looking beyond parity: Gender wage gaps and the leadership labyrinth in the Canadian healthcare management workforce.

It is important for health organizations to monitor progress toward gender equity and inclusion goals among health human resources. Within the Canadian healthcare management workforce, however, recent investigations are lacking. This study examines gender differences in composition and compensation among health leadership in Canada using national census data. Findings show that although women represent over half (57%) of senior managers in health and social services, the pipeline from middle management (72%) suggests persistent career barriers disproportionately affect women. Women health and social care managers' earnings averaged $0.83-.89 for every dollar that a man earned. The gender wage gap remained statistically significant, with women health managers earning 12-20% less than men, after adjusting for age, education and other characteristics. Dynamic decomposition analyses highlighted that most of the gender wage gap could not be explained within the available data-a finding attributable, at least in part, to (unmeasured and unmeasurable) gender discrimination.

Understanding the Impact of Green Human Resource Management Practices and Dynamic Sustainable Capabilities on Corporate Sustainable Performance: Evidence From the Manufacturing Sector.

Pakistan ranks as the eighth most vulnerable country on the 2021 global climate change vulnerability index. Partially, this perilous position is attributed to unsustainable practices in the large-scale manufacturing sector since its contribution to carbon emission is among the highest in the economy. These serious environmental challenges impede the attainment of sustainable development goals that concern responsible consumption and production. In manufacturing organizations, there are an ongoing debate regarding sustainable human resource management (HRM) determinants, which can promote sustainable performance. In this regard, green human resource management (GHRM) practices and dynamic sustainable capabilities are significant components as they have a unique role in transforming corporations into sustainable organizations. However, there is a dearth of evidence regarding the impact of individual GHRM practices, such as green recruitment and selection, green pay and reward, and sustainable capabilities like monitoring and re-configuration, in improving the corporate environmental and social performance. Hence, an empirical investigation regarding the association among these macro-level components with the corporate environmental and social performance through partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) is conducted. The findings inferred from 396 employees affiliated with six large-scale industries substantiate the main hypotheses of this study. It is empirically confirmed that GHRM and dynamic sustainable capabilities significantly and positively impact corporate sustainable performance. This research contributes to the literature by employing dynamic capabilities approach and a dynamic resource-based view (RBV) to explicate how corporations can benefit from the interplay of sustainable capabilities and GHRM functions. Hence, in the absence of a significant predictive model, this research is the first of its kind to isolate macro-level antecedents of sustainable HRM to find their impact on corporate sustainable performance in a developing country context. The study recommends that the management should prioritize the acquisition of monitoring capabilities and hiring environmentally conscious employees to achieve social equity and ecological conservation goals.