Case
Abstract
My research seeks to understand what shapes people’s beliefs about supporting and investing in public health. I analyze multi-level data from the United States, measuring individual-level perceptions using the General Social Survey and local economic and community characteristics using county-level census data. This case study explores the methodological successes and challenges associated with this multi-level approach and provides advice for future research. My discussion explores the importance of distinguishing between levels of analysis, explains how to combine information from different datasets, and evaluates ethical considerations in using sensitive, geo-coded data.