How does Dr. Moscou address the use of race and ethnicity in research?How does Dr. Moscou address the use of race and ethnicity in research?.The Profiling by Appearance and Assumption – SapienDr. Sapien is responding to an article about the dangers of subjectively determining apatient’s race and ethnicity in case presentations.1) What are the dangers of making assumptions about a patient’s race, ethnicity, and culture?2) Do these assumptions lead to differences in treatment and inequalities in health care?Conceptualizing Race/Ethnicity – MoscouHow does Dr. Moscou address the use of race and ethnicity in research?Nursing Inquiry 2008; 15(2): 94–105FeatureThe conceptualization andoperationalization of race andethnicity by health services researchersBlackwell Publishing LtdSusan MoscouMercy College, Dobbs Ferry, NY, USAAccepted for publication 29 October 2007MOSCOU S. Nursing Inquiry 2008; 15: 94–105The conceptualization and operationalization of race and ethnicity by health services researchersRacial and ethnic variables are routinely used in health services research. However, there is a growing debate within nursingand other disciplines about the usefulness of these variables in research. A qualitative study was undertaken (July 2004 – November2004) to ascertain how researchers conceptualize and operationalize racial and ethnic data. Data were derived from interviewswith 33 participants in academic health centers in differing geographic regions. Content analyses extracted manifest and latentmeanings to construct categories depicting respondents’ understandings of race and ethnicity in research. Race and ethnicityheld several meanings but the subtext was often not clear because these terms were not operationalized. Measuring race andethnicity quantitatively necessitated uniform classifications thus it was often necessary to impose a single racialized identity.