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addressing intersectionality research guide
Concise Guide to APA Style: 7th Edition (OFFICIAL)
Page 104 Review
Addressing Intersectionality in Research: A Detailed Commentary
The provided excerpt offers crucial guidance on addressing intersectionality in research, particularly in the context of psychological studies.
It emphasizes the importance of acknowledging and reporting the various characteristics and group memberships of individuals, such as ability/disability status, age, gender, race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status (SES), among others.
The Core Principle: Recognizing Intersecting Identities
The fundamental principle highlighted is that individuals are not defined by a single characteristic but by the complex interplay of multiple identities.
The text explicitly states:
“To address intersectionality in a paper, identify individuals’ relevant characteristics and group memberships (e.g., ability and/or disability status, age, gender, gender identity, generation, historical as well as ongoing experiences of marginalization, immigrant status, language, national origin, race and/or ethnicity, religion or spirituality, sex, sexual orientation, social class, and SES, among other variables), and describe how their characteristics and group memberships intersect in ways that are relevant to the study.”
This means researchers should actively identify these relevant characteristics and explore how they interact to shape individuals’ experiences and outcomes.
The Importance of Specific and Transparent Reporting
The excerpt strongly advocates for specific and transparent reporting of participant data, emphasizing the need to move beyond broad generalizations.
It provides a concrete example:
“For example, when describing participants in terms of their race and gender, write “20 participants were African American women, 15 participants were European American women, 23 participants were African American men, and 18 participants were European American men (all participants were cisgender)” rather than “35 participants were women and 41 were men; 43 were African American and 33 were European American.”
This level of detail allows readers to understand the composition of the groups being studied, enabling a more nuanced interpretation of the findings.
It avoids obscuring potentially important differences within broader categories.
Why This Level of Detail Matters
The text explicitly states the reason behind this recommendation:
“Reporting participant characteristics in this way helps readers understand how many groups are composed of individuals with the same characteristics.”
Furthermore, the excerpt urges researchers to consider the impact of these intersections when interpreting results:
“Likewise, when reporting and interpreting the results, note the impact of any intersections on the findings rather than assuming that one characteristic is responsible for what you found.”
This is a critical point.
It cautions against attributing findings solely to one characteristic (e.g., race or gender) without considering how other intersecting identities might be contributing to the observed outcomes.
For example, the experiences of African American women might be significantly different from those of European American women, and simply attributing differences to gender alone would be a gross oversimplification.
Referencing the Multicultural Guidelines
The excerpt also directs readers to the APA’s (2017) Multicultural Guidelines for a more comprehensive understanding of intersectionality:
“For more discussion of intersectionality, see the Multicultural Guidelines: An Ecological Approach to Context, Identity, and Intersectionality (APA, 2017).”
This highlights the importance of staying informed about best practices and resources related to culturally sensitive and inclusive research methodologies.
Beyond Data Reporting: A Deeper Understanding
The advice extends beyond mere data reporting; it calls for a deeper, more nuanced understanding of how individuals’ multiple identities shape their experiences.
It discourages simplistic interpretations and encourages researchers to actively explore the complex interplay of different characteristics.
Conclusion
In conclusion, this excerpt provides valuable guidance on addressing intersectionality in research.
By emphasizing detailed reporting of participant characteristics and encouraging researchers to consider the impact of intersecting identities, it promotes more accurate, nuanced, and equitable research practices.
Adhering to these guidelines can contribute to a better understanding of the diverse experiences and perspectives within our society, ultimately leading to more informed and impactful research outcomes.
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