Featuring state-of-the-art contributions from leading experts in their respective fields, the Encyclopedia of Health Research in the Social Sciences explores an extensive range of topics, concepts, research approaches and theoretical orientations aimed at providing guidance for those undertaking health research. Cross-disciplinary in scope, the Encyclopedia provides an accessible introduction to a wide variety of complex topics and presents a comprehensive overview of the latest findings in the field of health research. Entries examine timely issues such as big data in healthcare, complementary and alternative medicine, feminism and population health, social class and health inequalities, and vaccination debates. It ultimately exemplifies how social science perspectives can be deployed to help us better understand how individuals, institutions and society can act to support health and wellbeing. This informative Encyclopedia will be an indispensable reference for undergraduate and postgraduate students across disciplines with an interest in the complex relations between health research and the social sciences. Key Features: · 65 fully-referenced entries · An interdisciplinary approach, with topics ranging from animal studies to wellbeing · Written in a concise and accessible style, enabling researchers and students of social science to consider how to relate entries to their own interests