Uncontested categories: the use of race and ethnicity variables in nursing research

Abstract

Classifying human beings according to race and ethnicity may seem straightforward to some but it, in fact, belies a difficult process. No standard procedure exists for categorizing according to race and ethnicity, calling into question the variables' use in research. This article explores the use of race and ethnicity variables in the nursing research literature. Content analysis was conducted of a sample of 337 original research studies published in Nursing Research from the years 1952, 1955, and then every 5 years through to 2000. Of the 337 research articles reviewed, 167 mentioned race, ethnicity, or their 81 code words or phrases. Out of the 167 articles, 153 used race or ethnicity to describe the study sample, and 45 of the 167 articles included race or ethnicity as an element of data analysis. Throughout the sample, there was substantial inconsistency related to race and ethnicity categorization, meanings of the terms, and use of these variables. Specificity related to conceptual assumptions, definitions, and context was missing and, as a result, data interpretation and understanding are suspect. The integrity of nursing knowledge requires that nurse researchers recognize and address the difficulties inherent in using race and ethnicity in health research.

Persisting problems related to race and ethnicity in public health and epidemiology research

“…We are confi dent however that by choosing high impact journals we are presenting the current trends in the use of race and ethnicity in the most state-of-the art research. Reviews conducted in biomedical research 33 and nursing science 15 suggests that our results refl ect the wider phenomenon of health research.…”

“…Reviews conducted in biomedicine 33 and nursing research 15 identified similar key problems which must be addressed. Recent papers addressed methodological issues surrounding the use of statistical analyses and causal inference in the study of racial and ethnic differences 17 as well as problems in the defi nition and psychometrics of acculturation scales, 8,36,51 and racial discrimination scales.…”

What to make of race? : a content analysis of the use of race in health research.

“…Studies that have assessed the use of race or ethnicity in health research found that these terms are used interchangeably, have no standard definitions, and that many times researchers do not define how they have interpreted the terms for the purpose of their research (Comstock et al, 2004;Drevdahl, et al, 2006).…”

“…This practice could be based on the ambiguous use, and definition, of the terms within US agencies such as the U. S. Census Bureau and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) (Comstock et aI, 2004;Drevdahl et al, 2006;Takeuchi and Gage, 2003;Williams, 1997). …”

“…, 1997). Therefore, even within the guidelines set by OMB the meanings of race and ethnicity are ambiguous and used interchangeably, which could be one of the reason the terms are used so loosely in the United States (Comstock, et al, 2004;Drevdahl et al, 2006).…”