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Categorical Imperatives: The Interaction of Latino and Racial Identification *
Author(s) -
Campbell Mary E.,
Rogalin Christabel L.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
social science quarterly
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.482
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1540-6237
pISSN - 0038-4941
DOI - 10.1111/j.1540-6237.2006.00414.x
Subject(s) - ethnic group , salience (neuroscience) , chose , identification (biology) , categorical variable , multinomial logistic regression , population , psychology , context (archaeology) , social psychology , race (biology) , demography , sociology , geography , gender studies , political science , computer science , botany , archaeology , machine learning , anthropology , law , cognitive psychology , biology
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 Latino‐only identification. Selection of multiple labels was more common for Latinos than non‐Latinos, 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.