close
Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2014 Jul;20(3):336-52.
doi: 10.1037/a0035437.

How have researchers studied multiracial populations? A content and methodological review of 20 years of research

Linda Charmaraman  1 , Meghan Woo  2 , Ashley Quach  3 , Sumru Erkut  1
Affiliations
Review

How have researchers studied multiracial populations? A content and methodological review of 20 years of research

Linda Charmaraman et al. Cultur Divers Ethnic Minor Psychol. 2014 Jul.

Abstract

The U.S. Census shows that the racial-ethnic makeup of over 9 million people (2.9% of the total population) who self-identified as multiracial is extremely diverse. Each multiracial subgroup has unique social and political histories that may lead to distinct societal perceptions, economic situations, and health outcomes. Despite the increasing academic and media interest in multiracial individuals, there are methodological and definitional challenges in studying the population, resulting in conflicting representations in the literature. This content and methods review of articles on multiracial populations provides a comprehensive understanding of which multiracial populations have been included in research and how they have been studied, both to recognize emerging research and to identify gaps for guiding future research on this complex but increasingly visible population. We examine 125 U.S.-based peer-reviewed journal articles published over the past 20 years (1990 to 2009) containing 133 separate studies focused on multiracial individuals, primarily from the fields of psychology, sociology, social work, education, and public health. Findings include (a) descriptive data regarding the sampling strategies, methodologies, and demographic characteristics of studies, including which multiracial subgroups are most studied, gender, age range, region of country, and socioeconomic status; (b) major thematic trends in research topics concerning multiracial populations; and (c) implications and recommendations for future studies.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Adesope OO, Lavin T, Thompson T, Ungerleider C. A systematic review and meta-analysis of the cognitive correlates of bilingualism. Review of Educational Research. 2010;80 (2):207–245.
    1. Baden A. The psychological adjustment of transracial adoptees: An application of the Cultural–Racial Identity Model. Journal of Social Distress and the Homeless. 2002;2:167–191.
    1. Bernstein R, Edwards T. An older and more diverse nation by midcentury. Washington, DC: U.S. Census Bureau News; 2008.
    1. Binning KR, Unzueta MM, Huo YJ, Molina LE. The interpretation of multiracial status and its relation to social engagement and psychological well-being. Journal of Social Issues. 2009;65(1):35.
    1. Bonilla-Silva E. White supremacy and racism in the post-civil rights era. Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner Publishers; 2001.

Appendix A. Bibliography of Reviewed Articles

    1. AhnAllen JM, Suyemoto KL, Carter AS. Relationship between physical appearance, sense of belonging and exclusion, and racial/ethnic self-identification among multiracial Japanese European Americans. Cultural Diversity & Ethnic Minority Psychology. 2006;12:673–686. - PubMed
    1. Aldarondo F. Racial and ethnic identity models and their application: Counseling biracial individuals. Journal of Mental Health Counseling. 2001;23:238–255.
    1. Atkinson JO, MacDorman MF, Paker JD. Trends in births to parents of two different races in the United States: 1971–1995. Ethnicity & Disease. 2001;11:273–278. - PubMed
    1. Bing VM. Out of the closet but still in hiding: Conflicts and identity issues for a Black-White biracial lesbian. Women & Therapy. 2004;27:185–201.
    1. Binning KR, Unzueta MM, Huo YJ, Molina LE. The interpretation of multiracial status and its relation to social engagement and psychological well-being. Journal of Social Issues. 2009;65(1):35–49.

Publication types