Categorical imperatives: The interaction of Latino and racial identification Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • Objective. Most large data sets solicit ethnic identification and racial identification in separate questions. We test the relative salience of these two identifications by exploring whether individuals who chose both a Latino ethnic label and a racial label on separate survey questions still chose both of these labels when they were given a single combined question about their racial and ethnic origins.Methods. Using the May 1995 Race and Ethnicity Supplement to the Current Population Survey, we estimate a multinomial logit model of identification choices.Results. We find that most individuals who chose a Latino label and a racial label chose a Latinoonly identification. Selection of multiple labels was more common for Latinos than nonLatinos, however. Language use, local ethnic context, national origin, and age were all significantly related to these identification choices.Conclusion. The format of race and ethnicity questions on surveys has significant implications for the identification patterns of Latinos.

published proceedings

  • SOCIAL SCIENCE QUARTERLY

author list (cited authors)

  • Campbell, M. E., & Rogalin, C. L.

citation count

  • 56

complete list of authors

  • Campbell, Mary E||Rogalin, Christabel L

publication date

  • December 2006

publisher