The Dimensions of Ethnicity
Understanding the Cognitive Architecture of Ethnic Group Membership
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 17819969 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Caleb H Schmotter (0000-0001-9772-6374, St. Olaf College, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Pages | 1-34 |
| Publication date | 2026-04-23 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | The Journal of Race Ethnicity and Politics (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2056-6085 • E-ISSN: 2056-6085 |
| Publisher | Cambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1017/rep.2026.10070 |
| OpenAlex | W7155375602 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 26 |
What makes someone belong to an ethnic group? This article examines how individuals organize and prioritize ethnic attributes frequently used to denote membership and asks when simplified measurement strategies provide a reasonable approximation of ethnic identity in practice. Using original survey data from two online experiments fielded in 2024, I analyze respondents’ evaluations of eight common identity attributes among White, Black, and Latino Americans. Drawing on principal components analysis, multidimensional preference scaling, and circular-linear regression, I show that while some identities are well approximated by a single dominant dimension, others exhibit weaker alignment and greater heterogeneity in how attributes are prioritized. These differences have direct implications for measurement: reliance on any single attribute can meaningfully capture some identities while systematically misrepresenting others. More broadly, the findings underscore the need for group-sensitive measurement strategies when studying ethnic identity and its political and social consequences
Cognition · Ethnic group · Group (periodic table) · Identity (music) · Politics · Preference · Social identity theory · Names, Identity, and Discrimination Research · Social and Intergroup Psychology · Social Power and Status Dynamics
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| Unique citing works | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 1 |
| Citation span | 2026 - 2026 (1) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 1 |