Standardization
Standardization is a technique used in comparing indicators from two or more populations. The goal of the standardization procedure is to control for compositional differences between these groups that may influence the indicator that is being examined. This method allows a researcher to determine the extent to which differences in the rates of events between populations are due to differences in population characteristics. Often sociologists ask questions, that require comparisons between groups of people: Which city has a higher crime rate? Which country has lower mortality? Which ethnic group is more likely to coreside with elderly family members? In making these comparisons, one usually calculates a summary measure: crimes per capita, crude death rate, or the proportion of elders living with family members. However, any two groups of people are likely to differ along several dimensions, such as age, educational level, race, and income. These dimensions, or factors, also may be related to the event being explored. As a result, the summary measure to some extent reflects the compositional differences in the groups being studied.
Standardization historically has been a central aspect of demographic methods (Bogue 1969; Hinde 1998; Murdock and Ellis 1991; Shryock and Siegel 1980), but its importance extends beyond that use to a way of thinking about summary or aggregate measures.
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