Developing Measures of Structural Racism: An Integrated Approach for Educational Researchers

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Saturday 9:50 am Four Seasons Ballroom 1
  In Roundtable Session: Innovative Approaches to Quantitative Analysis: Addressing Bias, Model Constraints, and Intersectionality in Social Research (Table 3)

Abstract

This study examines the impact of structural racism on K-12 education by exploring how we conceptualize and validate quantitative measures of it. Grounded in Quantitative Critical Race Theory (QuantCrit), which emphasizes the non-neutrality of numbers and the socially constructed nature of categories, we challenge the traditional methods of accounting for racism in educational research. Utilizing data from U.S. Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights, Civil Rights Data Collection, the study applies confirmatory factor analysis to test the validity of school-based measures of structural racism, including discipline disparities, resource allocation, and segregation. By addressing the gap in quantitative literature, this research aims to provide a robust framework for examining the effects of structural racism in education and promoting equity.

Authors

• Amanda J. Davis Simpfenderfer, College of William & Mary

• Ayse Nur Boos, College of William & Mary

• Jingjing Liu, Florida International University