Organization, Planning: Recent Developments in the Measurement of Health Inequality

Location: Carl Friedrich von Siemens Foundation, Munich
Date: March 26–27, 2026

Conference Description:
Health-related inequalities are a central topic in social science health and public health research. In recent years, the methodological assessment of these inequalities has seen significant advances, particularly through the development of new measurement tools, data sources, and analytical techniques. This two-day conference provides a platform for sociologists, public health researchers, and scholars from other disciplines to present and discuss current empirical studies and methodological innovations in health research. The goal is to deepen our understanding of the challenges and opportunities in measuring health inequalities and to explore new research approaches.

Main Topics:

• New quantitative and qualitative methods for assessing health inequalities

• Use of big data and digital health records

• Comparative analyses across countries and social groups

• Causal analyses and experimental designs in health research

• Challenges and ethical aspects of data collection

Conference Format:
The preliminary program includes a keynote lecture, approximately 12 thematically grouped presentations, and a poster session with up to 10 posters. The event will conclude with a panel discussion on the future perspectives of measuring health inequalities.

Target Audience:
The conference is aimed at researchers from the fields of sociology, public health, epidemiology, and related disciplines who are engaged in the empirical investigation of health inequalities.

Call for Contributions:
Researchers are invited to submit abstracts for oral or poster presentations (max. 1 page). Submissions should have a clear empirical focus and present innovative methodological approaches or uses of data.

Organization & Contact:

Section on Medical and Health Sociology (DGS):
Peter Kriwy: peter.kriwy(at)soziologie.tu-chemnitz.de

Working Group on Methods of the German Society for Medical Sociology (DGMS):
Matthias Nübling, FFAW Freiburg: nuebling(at)ffaw.de
Daniel Lüdecke, UKE Hamburg: d.luedecke(at)uke.de

We would like to express our sincere thanks to the Carl Friedrich von Siemens Foundation for supporting the event by providing the venue and catering for participants during lunch and coffee breaks. This support enables us to hold the conference without charging a participation fee.