Weighting of Components

Three criteria were considered when assigning weights to components. 

1.         What effect does a component have on over health?

2.         Is the effect measured solely by this component or is it included in other components? 

3.         How reliable are the data supporting a component?

The final weights, presented in Table 15, are based on input from experts in 1990 and 1991 and included in the methodology review now underway. (Page 72)  The weights of the components total 100 percent.  The column labeled “% of Total” indicates the weight of each component in determining the overall ranking.  For example, prevalence of smoking is 10 percent of the America’s Health Rankings™.  The column labeled “Effect on Score” presents how each component positively or negatively relates to the overall ranking.  For example, a high prevalence of smoking has a negative effect on score and will lower the ranking of a state.  An increase in the percent of high school graduates has a positive effect on score and will increase the overall ranking of a state.

Table 15 - Weight of Individual Components