How Colorblindness, Prejudice, and Interracial Contact Influence Race-Related Item Nonresponse in Social Surveys Restricted; Files Only

Abstract

In recent years, race-related survey item nonresponse has risen, especially among whites. This pattern, unique in item nonresponse, is likely the result of ideological and normative shifts in how people engage racial issues. Through this dissertation, I investigate potential causes of race-related item nonresponse, grounded in recent racial attitudes research. Using three national datasets, the National Politics Study, the Black Politics Study, and the General Social Survey, I systematically examine several potential causes. First, I test the colorblind hypothesis, across a variety of question types, finding colorblind racial attitudes predict race-related item nonresponse. I also find that merely examining demographic factors to determine bias caused by colorblindness is not sufficient. In the next study, I examine whether prejudice plays a role in producing race-related item nonresponse, finding that among whites it inhibits nonresponse to an interpersonal race question. I also find that when it comes to more traditional race-related survey items, prejudice only sometimes plays an important role. In the final study, I examine contact’s influence on nonresponse to race-related questions, finding that in most cases it decreases the likelihood of “don’t knows” to these items. In one case, I find the effect can be fully explained through interracial contact’s impact on prejudice, while in another none of its impact can be explained through this effect. This suggests that increased topic familiarity and/or the other unique effects of interracial contact may play an important role in encouraging response to race-related survey items. Taken together, the three studies provide important insight for researchers interested in producing accurate estimates of racial attitudes. Because racial attitudes and interracial contact each influence race-related item nonresponse, and these effects are not explained away by sociodemographic factors, researchers must take great care when handling item nonresponse in race-related survey data.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................... 1

Item Nonresponse in Social Surveys .......................................................................................... 1

Race-Related “Don’t Knows”..................................................................................................... 2

An Example of Race-Related “Don’t Knows” ........................................................................... 5

Explaining Race-Related Item Nonresponse through Three Studies.......................................... 6

References................................................................................................................................... 9

Figures....................................................................................................................................... 11

Chapter 2: RACE-RELATED ITEM NONRESPONSE IN SOCIAL SURVEYS: THE 

COLORBLIND EXPLANATION................................................................................................ 13

Colorblind Attitudes and Race-Related Item Nonresponse ...................................................... 14

Racial Avoidance and Colorblindness...................................................................................... 15

Colorblindness Across Groups: Who is Most Impacted? ......................................................... 16

Hypotheses................................................................................................................................ 18

Data and Methods..................................................................................................................... 18

Analytic Plan............................................................................................................................. 32

Results....................................................................................................................................... 32

Discussion................................................................................................................................. 35

References................................................................................................................................. 40

Tables........................................................................................................................................ 43

Figures....................................................................................................................................... 54

Appendixes ............................................................................................................................... 56

Chapter 3: EXAMINING THE INFLUENCE OF PREJUDICE ON RACE-RELATED ITEM 

NONRESPONSE.......................................................................................................................... 60

Changing Forms of Prejudice ................................................................................................... 65

Expression of Prejudice Among Different Racial Groups........................................................ 74

Hypotheses................................................................................................................................ 76

Methods..................................................................................................................................... 76

Results....................................................................................................................................... 86

Discussion................................................................................................................................. 91

References................................................................................................................................. 95

Tables........................................................................................................................................ 99

Figures..................................................................................................................................... 114

Appendix................................................................................................................................. 132

Chapter 4: THE EFFECTS OF INTERRACIAL CONTACT ON RACE-RELATED ITEM 

NONRESPONSE........................................................................................................................ 134

Familiarity and Item Nonresponse.......................................................................................... 134

Contact Theory: How Interracial Friendship Shapes Prejudice.............................................. 136

Generalization Thesis.............................................................................................................. 140

Implications for Research on Race-Related Item Nonresponse ............................................. 143

Methods................................................................................................................................... 146

Results..................................................................................................................................... 154

Discussion............................................................................................................................... 157

References............................................................................................................................... 159

Tables...................................................................................................................................... 163

Figures..................................................................................................................................... 168

Appendix................................................................................................................................. 178

Chapter 5: CONCLUSION........................................................................................................ 182

References............................................................................................................................... 187

About this Dissertation

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School	Laney Graduate School
Department	Sociology
Degree	Ph.D.
Submission	Dissertation
Language	English
Research Field	Sociology, Ethnic and Racial Studies
Keyword	Item Nonresponse Racial Attitudes Survey Methods
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Sewell, Alyasah, Emory University Forman, Tyrone, University of Illinois Chicago
Committee Members	Franzosi, Roberto, Emory University Lewis, Amanda, University of Illinois Chicago Gillespie, Andra, Emory University Williams, Melissa, Emory University

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