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Book/Printed Material An empirical analysis of "acting white"

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Title

  • An empirical analysis of "acting white"

Summary

  • "There is a debate among social scientists regarding the existence of a peer externality commonly referred to as 'acting white.' Using a newly available data set (the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health), which allows one to construct an objective measure of a student's popularity, we demonstrate that there are large racial differences in the relationship between popularity and academic achievement; our (albeit narrow) definition of 'acting white.' The effect is intensified among high achievers and in schools with more interracial contact, but non-existent among students in predominantly black schools or private schools. The patterns in the data appear most consistent with a two-audience signaling model in which investments in education are thought to be indicative of an individual's opportunity costs of peer group loyalty. Other models we consider, such as self-sabotage among black youth or the presence of an oppositional culture, all contradict the data in important ways"--National Bureau of Economic Research Web site.

Names

  • Fryer, Roland G.
  • Torelli, Paul
  • National Bureau of Economic Research

Created / Published

  • Cambridge, MA : National Bureau of Economic Research, c2005.

Headings

  • -  Academic achievement--Social aspects--United States
  • -  African American students
  • -  African American students--Ethnic identity
  • -  Popularity

Notes

  • -  Title from PDF file as viewed on 7/28/2005.
  • -  Includes bibliographical references.
  • -  Also available in print.
  • -  Mode of access: World Wide Web.
  • -  System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Call Number/Physical Location

  • HB1

Digital Id

Library of Congress Control Number

  • 2005618484

Access Advisory

  • Unrestricted online access

Online Format

  • image
  • pdf

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Cite This Item

Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.

Chicago citation style:

Fryer, Roland G, Paul Torelli, and National Bureau Of Economic Research. An Empirical Analysis of "Acting White". Cambridge, MA: National Bureau of Economic Research, 2005. Pdf. https://aj.sunback.homes/item/2005618484/.

APA citation style:

Fryer, R. G., Torelli, P. & National Bureau Of Economic Research. (2005) An Empirical Analysis of "Acting White". Cambridge, MA: National Bureau of Economic Research. [Pdf] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://aj.sunback.homes/item/2005618484/.

MLA citation style:

Fryer, Roland G, Paul Torelli, and National Bureau Of Economic Research. An Empirical Analysis of "Acting White". Cambridge, MA: National Bureau of Economic Research, 2005. Pdf. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <aj.sunback.homes/item/2005618484/>.