Beyond ‘migrant background’: how to select relevant, social justice oriented, and feasible social categories in educational research

Jana Vietze ^[1] ; Miriam Schwarzenthal ^[2] ; Ursula Moffitt ^[3] ; Sauro Civitillo ^[4]
1. [1] Erasmus University Rotterdam
  
  Erasmus University Rotterdam
  
  Países Bajos
2. [2] University of Potsdam
  
  University of Potsdam
  
  Kreisfreie Stadt Potsdam, Alemania
3. [3] Northwestern University
  
  Northwestern University
  
  Township of Evanston, Estados Unidos
4. [4] University of Duisburg-Essen
  
  University of Duisburg-Essen
  
  Kreisfreie Stadt Essen, Alemania
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Localización: European Journal of Psychology of Education, ISSN-e 1878-5174, ISSN 0256-2928, Vol. 38, Nº 1, 2023, págs. 389-408
Idioma: inglés
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Resumen
- Across continental Europe, educational research samples are often divided by ‘migrant background’, a binary variable criticized for masking participant heterogeneity and reinforcing exclusionary norms of belonging. This study endorses more meaningful, representative, and precise research by offering four guiding questions for selecting relevant, social justice oriented, and feasible social categories for collecting and analysing data in psychological and educational research. Using a preregistered empirical example, we first compare selected social categories (‘migrant background’, family heritage, religion, citizenship, cultural identification, and generation status) in their potential to reveal participant heterogeneity. Second, we investigate differences in means and relations between variables (discrimination experiences, perceived societal Islamophobia, and national identity) and academic motivation among 1335 adolescents in Germany (48% female, Mage = 14.69). Regression analyses and multigroup SEM revealed differential experiences with and implications of discrimination for academic motivation. Results highlight the need for a deliberate, transparent use of social categories to make discrimination visible and centre participants’ subjective experiences.