Bridging 1990 and 2000 Census Race Data: Fractional Assignment of Multiracial Populations

In contrast to previous censuses, Census 2000 permitted individuals to mark more than one race. Because the new race tables include both single-race and mixed-race categories, measuring change during the 1990s requires some method of bridging between the two data sets. To accomplish this bridging, w...

Ausführliche Beschreibung

Bibliographische Detailangaben
Veröffentlicht in:Population Research and Policy Review. - Springer Science + Business Media. - 20(2001), 6, Seite 513-533
1. Verfasser: Allen, James P. (VerfasserIn)
Weitere Verfasser: Turner, Eugene
Format: Online-Aufsatz
Sprache:English
Veröffentlicht: 2001
Zugriff auf das übergeordnete Werk:Population Research and Policy Review
Schlagworte:Census Multiracial Population Race United States Social sciences Behavioral sciences History Mathematics Environmental studies Political science
Beschreibung
Zusammenfassung:In contrast to previous censuses, Census 2000 permitted individuals to mark more than one race. Because the new race tables include both single-race and mixed-race categories, measuring change during the 1990s requires some method of bridging between the two data sets. To accomplish this bridging, we first identified biracial populations as of 1990 through the race and ancestry responses of individuals in the PUMS file. With race responses assumed to represent a person's primary race identity, we then determined the percentage of each biracial group that preferred each race as the primary identity. The same percentages can be used to assign biracial persons from Census 2000 into single-race categories. We also provide fractional assignment percentages for selected states and for the larger specific nationality groups of mixed-race Asians. Comparison of our 1990 estimates of the numbers in leading biracial groups with those reported in Census 2000 suggests that our fractional assignment values are reasonable for biracial groups other than those involving American Indians and Alaska Natives. For the latter biracial groups and for all groups representing three or more races, we recommend equal fractional assignment into the appropriate single-race categories.
ISSN:15737829