title: Using Simpson's diversity index to examine multidimensional models of diversity in health professions education.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study explored new models of diversity for health professions education that incorporate multiple attributes and examined differences in diversity based on urbanicity, geographic region, and institutional structure.
  
  
  METHODS
  Simpson's Diversity Index was used to develop race, gender, and interprofessional diversity indices for health professions schools in the United States (N = 318). Sullivan's extension was used to develop a composite diversity index that incorporated multiple individual attributes for each school. Pearson's r was used to investigate correlations between continuous variables. ANOVA and independent t-tests were used to compare groups based on urbanicity, geographic region, and Basic Carnegie Classification.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean (SD) for race, gender, and interprofessional diversity indices were 0.36(0.17), 0.45(0.07), and 0.22(0.27) respectively. All correlations between the three indices were weak. The composite diversity index for this sample was 0.34(0.13). Significant differences in diversity were found between institutions based on urbanicity, Basic Carnegie Classification, and geographic region.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Multidimensional models provide support for expanding measures of diversity to include multiple characteristics and attributes. The approach demonstrated in this study enables institutions to complement and extend traditional measures of diversity as a means of providing evidence for decision-making and progress towards institutional initiatives.
authors.affiliation: University of North Carolina Eshelman School of Pharmacy, UNC Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Jacqueline E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: McLaughlin
authors.affiliation: Enrollment Management and Marketing, DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois, USA.
authors.forename: Gerald W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: McLaughlin
authors.affiliation: Walter E. Heller College of Business, Roosevelt University in Chicago, Illinois, USA.
authors.forename: Josetta S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: McLaughlin
authors.affiliation: Office of Innovative Leadership and Diversity, University of North Carolina Eshelman School of Pharmacy, UNC Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Carla Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: White
mesh_terms: D018864:Cultural Diversity; D005260:Female; D006281:Health Occupations / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D044469:Racial Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012576:Schools, Health Occupations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States
keywords: Simpson’s Diversity Index; decision support; diversity; institutional research; measurement