my academic interests are in critiquing scientific psychology (as it is widely practiced in the U.S.) from postmodernist and constructivists philosophies. however, there are few psychology graduate departments in the U.S. supportive of such endevours. to accomadate what i want to research and study, i've turned to opportunities in departments with research interests in methodology. i am currently considering researching the use of race and ethnicity variables in psychology research. i'm especially interested in the way that the increase in population of "mixed race" or "multicultural" individuals, and popularization of "race" and "ethnicity" as cultural constructions, will complicate and change the way such variables are constructively and externally validated.

does anyone know of past research in this area? any suggestions on the viability of my line of inquiry?

-- Mike L (laum@earthlink.net), March 28, 2001

Answers

"Race" has been used as a variable from the beginning of institutionalized academic psychology. "Mixed race" has been used as a variable, much more at the beginning of the 20th century than at the end of the 20th century. You can start with Ferguson, G. O. (1916). The psychology of the negro: An experimental study. Archives of Psychology, 36, 1-138. Ferguson compares "sub-classes of negroes" (pure, three-fourth, mulattos, quadroons) in order to test the impact of "negro blood" on cognitive ability. There are plenty of studies of that type. If you are interested in a contemporary discussion look at: Root, M. P. P. (Ed.). (1992). Racially Mixed People in America. Newbury Park, CA: Sage. Root, M. P. (Ed.) (1996). The multiracial experience. Thousand Oa

-- thomas teo (tteo@yorku.ca), March 29, 2001.