Methodological Issues in Quantitative Research on Race and Ethnicity

Instructor(s): Phillip Bowman, University of Michigan; Angela Ebreo

This course examines research design, measurement, and analysis issues in quantitative research on racial and ethnic minority populations in the United States. Individuals with a substantive interest in the systematic social science examination of race and ethnicity will be afforded the opportunity to explore a variety of research methodologies for the purpose of refining analytic skills and setting research agendas. "Hand-on" analysis of computerized data will be an integral component of the learning experience. Methodological areas focused on will include: reliable and valid measurement of racial and ethnic variables in major survey studies; innovative sampling strategies for diverse populations; race-related measurement errors in data collection; analysis traditions and trends within various social/behavioral science fields. The class will feature an inter-and cross disciplinary perspective, with examples drawn from such fields as sociology, psychology, political science, and economics. The course will meet 12:30 to 2:30, across the four-week period. Participants are encouraged to also enroll in an appropriate ICPSR statistics course in the afternoon.