This article reports findings from a laboratory study designed to investigate self-identification
among 69 multiracial and multiethnic women. Respondent reactions to two current question
naire formats for collecting racial information and a third version that includes a multiracial
response option were examined. Findings suggest that respondents' racial identification varies
considerably across question formats and that persons of mixed heritage prefer a racial
identification question that provides them, at a minimum, with the opportunity to acknowledge
their multiracial background. In addition, many respondents also expressed the desire to identify
each of the specific groups that constitute their racial/ethnic background.
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