The Epidemiologic Approach to Accident Causation

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Abstract
The epidemiologic method is used in the process of formulation and testing of hypotheses for development of accident-prevention techniques. Two types of epidemiologic studies are distinguished: descriptive epidemiology compares accident rates based on host factors and environmental factors; investigative, or "case," epidemiology entails investigation of a group of accidental incidents, usually be means of interviews. Although the latter may not be true epidemiology in the sense that it has no population base and rates cannot be calculated, the unstructured form allows for more spontaneity in questions and answers. This spontaneity is an aid in forming hypotheses, for in no science has the thought process involved in hypothesis formation been classified and formularized to such an extent as to rule out what John Steinbeck calls "the inductive leap." Some epidemiologic studies that have been carried out in the field of accident prevention are described.

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