Asian American Identity Scale Daphna Oyserman (University of Michigan)
Oyserman‚ D.‚ & Sakamoto‚ I. (1997). Being Asian American: Identity‚ cultural constructs‚ and stereotype perception‚The Journal of Applied Behavioral Science‚ 33‚ 435-453.
The Asian American Identity scale (AsAmID‚ M = 3.71‚ alpha = .72) was based on Oyserman's tripartite racial model (Oyserman‚ D.‚ Gant‚ L. & Ager‚ J. (1995). A socially contextualized model of African American identity: Possible selves and school persistence. Journalof PersonalityandSocialPsychology‚69‚ 1216-1232)‚ with specific scale items developed for Asian Americans‚ especially adding family focus. Exploratory factor analyses with a varimax rotation of the 12 items resulted in a four-factor solution (Connectedness‚ Family Focus‚ Interdependent Achievement‚ and Awareness of Racism).
RESPONSE SCALE: A 5-point Likert-type response scale is used (1 = strongly disagree‚ 2 = disagree‚ 3 = neither disagree nor agree‚ 4 = agree‚ 5 = strongly agree).
SCALE ITEMS (BY SUBSCALE with means‚ reliabilities) Connectedness. (M = 4.13‚ alpha = .77).
1. It is important to me to learn about my group's traditions‚ customs and values.
2. I try to carry out at least some of my group's customs and traditions (e.g.‚ relating to holidays‚ food‚ language).
3. I want my children to be raised with my group's traditions.
Family Focus. (M = 4.16‚ alpha = .64).
5. My relationship with my family is more important than other relationships I have.
6. Respect for my elders is an important part of how I was raised.
7. It is difficult for me to imagine celebrating major holidays without my family.
Interdependent Achievement. (M = 2.98‚ alpha = .72).
8. Working hard and getting good grades are a part of who I am as a member of my ethnic
9. It is important for me as a member of my ethnicity to work towards a socially respected career such as medicine or law.
10. Every time a member of my ethnicity receives public recognition for occupational or academic success‚ it helps my group achieve success.
11. Most people are prejudiced against Asians in at least some ways.
12. As a member of my group I will probably have to work harder than most people in order to get ahead.
DESCRIPTIVE STATISTICS: Family Focus and Connectedness were correlated (r = .32‚ p < .01)‚ as were Interdependent Achievement and Connectedness (r = .22‚p < .01) and Interdependent Achievement and Awareness of Racism (r = .32‚p < .01). Other correlations between subscales were not significant.