Can you describe the population using the core concepts of sex, gender, diversity and equity?
4a. Sex.
Tip: If you need a quick refresher on how the core concepts are defined, go here:
Characterize a population using the core concepts of sex, gender, diversity and equity.
Have you thought about the sex of the population you are describing?
Hint: Remember that sex is biological and is expressed along a continuum.
Does the population you are interested in consist of one, two or more sexes? Is this population defined by characteristics other than sex, such as age, ethnicity, and education? For example, if you are interested in understanding men’s experiences of overweight and obesity, your population would include only males. By comparison, if you are interested in understanding the impact of income on rates of overweight and obesity, your population might include both males and females as well as those who identify as neither or both. It is important to be clear about the sex of the population you are interested in or working with.
If you don’t have appropriate data for the population you are interested in or working with, can you get it? If not, why not?
Hint: Gaps in the evidence may make it impossible to address the entire continuum of sex. But data may be available for males and females, if not for those who identify as neither or both. Sometimes researchers try to ensure a balance of female and male participants in their studies, but then do not report their findings by sex. Sex-disaggregated data may be available if you ask for it.