Methodological Considerations and Challenges to Conducting Research on Interethnic Relationships: Using the Right Toolkit!

Abstract

This article discusses the methodological issues and challenges associated with research examining interethnic relationships and marriage. A major focus of this article is on the identification and classification of interethnic marriages. A second aim of the article is to explore the specific challenges faced by researchers who study these types of relationships. The third and final focus of the article is on reliable and specific guidance for researchers engaged in interethnic relationships research. The article provides an overview of specific methodological matters in conducting research on interethnic relationships and marriage including research design, sampling constraints, self‐classification labels versus other labels, comfort in discussing or disclosing what may be perceived to be a sensitive issue, as well as the in‐group or out‐group status of the researcher. More generally, by presenting a discussion of both qualitative and quantitative methods for research in this area and the limitations of each, we provide a “tool kit” of helpful guidance to those engaged in this type of research.

Barriers to Interracial Marriage? Examining Policy Issues Concerning U.S. Citizens Married to Undocumented Latino/a Immigrants

“…The investment model, an extension of interdependence theory is generalizable across different types of relationships and will be an important frame for future research on commitment for mixed‐status couples (Cox et al., ; Gaines, Clark, & Afful, ; Kelley & Thibaut, 1959). In this volume Craig‐Henderson and Lewis () point of the importance of collecting data over time, thus it will be important to collect both qualitative and quantitative longitudinal data to assess the long‐term wellbeing of couples and their families.…”

Concluding Thoughts: Interethnic Marriage through the Lens of Interdependence Theory

“…Use of techniques such as the Implicit Association Test (IAT; Greenwald, Nosek, & Banaji, 2003) may also be useful. Afful et al (2015) and Craig-Henderson and Lewis (2015) suggested that researchers need to examine interethnic couples using prospective or longitudinal methods. This would be especially helpful in understanding the role of the social network (Castle Bell and Hastings, 2015;Leslie and Young, 2015) and changes in racial identity of the partners .…”

“…Craig‐Henderson and Lewis () note that most comparative research assumes that interethnic marriages are dysfunctional compared to intraethnic marriages and that the focus is on the identification of costs or liabilities associated with interethnic marriages. They further suggest that this type of research seeks confirmation of hypotheses about the relative instability of interethnic marriages, even though there are many studies that suggest that this is not the case.…”

“…Craig‐Henderson and Lewis () discuss the importance of studying different ethnic/gender combinations. The rewards, costs, investments, and alternatives for a Black female/White male couple may be different than those for an Asian female/Latino male couple.…”

“…Therefore a Japanese–Chinese couple is an interethnic marriage, although many Western researchers may not consider it so since both are Asian. Craig‐Henderson and Lewis () make a similar notation about Whites, who may have ancestors from any of a variety of European countries. Some persons who are often referred to as African American may have ancestors from the Caribbean.…”