Racial Identification, Preference, and Self-Concept

Abstract

A two-phase study was undertaken to test white and Canadian Indian school-children for racial identification and self-concept. The objective was to establish attitudinal patterns and correlations using children in grades two, four and six at two schools (one integrated and one not). The first phase, using a picture test to measure preference, rejection, and identification found significant age, race, school, and sex differences in both preference and rejection. The second phase, using a short measure of self-concept, found sex, age, and school differences. Significant correlations between the two measures were found at the young age levels. Overall, with a few exceptions, the significant age, sex, race, and school differences were consistent with the conclusions drawn from previous research.