Behavioral Epidemiology: Principles and Applications

“…excellent coverage of the primary premise in clinical/(health) psychology that health conditions are largely behavior-associated, or a result of poor lifestyle choices. Good health is the result of careful planning and implementation of beneficial behaviors/practices.” ―Dr. Lisa Schneiter, Jefferson Community College Behavioral Epidemiology: Principles and Applications is the first of its kind to bring together the disciplines of the social/behavioral sciences and epidemiology. The text reviews how we study health in relation to behaviors, the complexities of such studies, ways to minimize these complexities, and how to use this knowledge to prevent and control disease in human populations. By combining these disciplines, this book provides a foundation for students and researchers in the methods used to study behavior, drawing upon mutually successful methods, and discussing what to do when these disciplines overlap or interact. This text is ideal for master’s level or early doctoral graduate students in the behavioral sciences, epidemiology, or public health, as well as researchers from other fields interested in an introduction to population-based research of behavior and health. Instructor Resources: Instructor's Manual, PowerPoint Lecture Slides, Test Bank

Ray M. Merrill, Ph.D., M.P.H. has been actively involved in epidemiology and biostatistics'since his professional career began in 1995. As a Cancer Prevention Fellow at the National Cancer Institute, he worked with leading researchers in the area of cancer epidemiology. In 1998 he joined the faculty in the Department of Health Science at Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, where he continued his research in epidemiology. Since 1999 he has also held an adjunct faculty position in the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine at the University of Utah. In 2001, he spent a sabbatical working in the Unit of Epidemiology for Cancer Prevention at the International Agency for Research on Cancer Administration, Lyon, France. He has won various awards for his research in cancer epidemiology.Dr. Merrill'currently teaches introductory and advanced level classes in epidemiology and biostatistics. He has over 100 professional publications in epidemiology and public health journals. He is currently a full professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at Brigham Young University.