Key points
The Legal Epidemiology Competency Model includes three major domains: 1) general legal epidemiology competencies, 2) legal mapping, and 3) legal evaluation. Domain 2 addresses the competencies needed to conduct legal mapping studies. Learn to identify the need for policy surveillance projects and how to design them.
Figure 1—Domain 2: Competencies for Legal Mapping Studies
| Competency Statement 1
Identify opportunities for legal mapping to inform the process, nature, and impact of policies and laws on public health |
Tier 1 |
Tier 2 |
Tier 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.1.1a: Obtain initial health- and law-related background information | 2.1.2a: Select jurisdictions, populations, or outcomes to analyze | 2.1.3a: Set research priorities such as topics, types of studies, and outputs | |
| 2.1.1b: Identify applicable current laws and policies on an issue | 2.1.2b: Determine data sources with information needed for analysis | ||
| 2.1.1c: Describe the status of the legal and policy framework surrounding an issue | 2.1.2c: Compare the problem to gaps in current understanding with input from a subject matter expert | 2.1.3b: Gather input from partners and activities in the field to finalize a research question | |
| 2.1.1d: Draft a problem statement through background research | 2.2.1d: Define objectives and scope of the study | 2.1.3c: Determine the feasibility of study objectives | |
| Competency Statement 2
Develop policy surveillance or legal assessment studies to address specific research questions |
Tier 1 |
Tier 2 |
Tier 3 |
| 2.2.1a: Collect laws or policies iteratively using online search platforms on the basis of background research | 2.2.2a: Develop methods and instruments for collecting valid and reliable legal or health data | 2.2.3a: Confirm the appropriateness of the legal mapping study scope and coding system with subject matter experts | |
| 2.2.1b: Generate search string, variables of interest, definitions, and coding system on the basis of initial review of collected information | 2.2.2b: Consult with stakeholders, accrediting bodies, and other partners regarding legal mapping standards, measures, and metrics | 2.2.3b: Strategize a research agenda across multiple legal mapping studies | |
| 2.2.2c: Assign tasks to team members on the basis of administrative requirements and resources | |||
| Competency Statement 3
Analyze laws, policies, and political and programmatic priorities using evidence-based or empirical guidelines (including health-related principles or trends, stakeholder or special interests, and other key developments or concerns) |
Tier 1 |
Tier 2 |
Tier 3 |
| 2.3.1a: Apply a coding system to collected laws and policies using an iterative process | 2.3.2a: Standardize procedures and systems to ensure quality and consistency of coding | 2.3.3a: Monitor progress and provide objective feedback on research strategy using institutional knowledge and experience | |
| 2.3.1b: Quantify variations in laws or policies between jurisdictions or over time | 2.3.2b: Compare research findings with study objectives and outcomes | 2.3.3b: Collaborate with partners to review legal mapping study methodology, progress, and findings | |
| 2.3.1c: Use relevant databases to track and assess legal and policy information | 2.3.2c: Identify opportunities for innovation and enhancement of methods or use of new technology or resources for legal epidemiology studies | 2.3.3c: Pursue opportunities for innovation and enhancement of methods or use of new technology or resources | |
| Competency Statement 4
Validate and synthesize results that compare and contrast meaningful variations in law and policy related to health |
Tier 1 |
Tier 2 |
Tier 3 |
| 2.4.1a: Resolve ambiguities and discrepancies in legal mapping data | 2.4.2a: Check the validity and reliability of legal mapping data | 2.4.3a: Ensure that the legal mapping study design, process, and findings have met the original research objectives | |
| 2.4.1b: Identify trends in legal mapping | 2.4.2b: Confirm research findings and limitations of legal mapping study | ||
| 2.4.1c: Summarize findings from the legal mapping study | 2.4.2c: Draft conclusions from legal mapping studies on the basis of the current legal, public health, and political context | 2.4.3b: Confirm conclusions in the context of current knowledge and information from the field |