Research Studies: Race, Religion & Society

A Time to Learn, A Time to Grow: California Parents Talk About Summertime And Summer Programs
Jon Rochkind, Jean Johnson and Amber N. Ott

A Public Agenda survey of over 1,200 parents in California, with interviews conducted in English and Spanish, finds a gap between what parents want for their children during the summer and the activities in which their children were able to participate. Majorities of parents said it is important for their child to partake in a variety of activities during the summer, not only spending time with family, but also participating in enriching activities, including academics.

A Place to Call Home: What Immigrants Say Now About Life in America
Scott Bittle and Jonathan Rochkind, with Amber Ott and Paul Gasbarra

Immigrants are holding fast to their belief that America remains the land of opportunity, according to a new Public Agenda study. Majorities of immigrants report they become comfortable in the United States quickly, even as ties to their birth country have become stronger since we last surveyed immigrants in 2002.

Out Before the Game Begins: Hispanic Leaders Talk About What’s Needed to Bring More Hispanic Youngsters Into Science, Technology and Math Professions
Paul Gasbarra and Jean Johnson

This Public Agenda report, prepared for IBM's summit on "America's Competitiveness: Hispanic Participation in Technology Careers," is based on in-depth interviews with 19 key leaders from vastly different fields and backgrounds. Nearly all of the interviewees said that when it comes to Hispanic and Latino students, the education pipeline is all but broken.

Walking a Mile: A First Step Toward Mutual Understanding: A Qualitative Study Exploring How Indians and Non-Indians Think About Each Other
John Doble and Andrew Yarrow with Amber Ott and Jonathan Rochkind

This new study is one of the most in-depth examinations ever made of the thinking of American Indians and non-Indians about each other. The research--based on 12 focus groups conducted in 2006 and 2007--explores Indians' perceptions of their own place in contemporary American society and how non-Indians view American Indians, what they know (or think they know), the generalizations they make and stereotypes they hold, how their perceptions were formed and their interest in learning more. The research was made possible by a grant from The Christian A. Johnson Endeavor Foundation.

Reality Check 2006, Issue No. 2: How Black and Hispanic Families Rate Their Schools
Jean Johnson, Ana Maria Arumi and Amber Ott

The second in a series of Reality Check reports finds that black and Hispanic students are more likely than their white counterparts to report "very serious" problems in their schools on both academic and social dimensions. Three in 10 black youngsters report very serious levels of disruption and unrest in their schools – not just "somewhat serious," but "very serious." Black students are twice as likely as white students to say that schools not getting enough money is a very serious problem in their community.

Great Expectations: How the Public and Parents -- White, African American and Hispanic -- View Higher Education
John Immerwahr with Tony Foleno.

For most Americans, a college education has replaced the high school diploma as the gateway to the middle class, and we found African American and Hispanic parents are significantly more likely than whites to emphasize the value of higher education, not less. The public's focus isn't just on the credential but on the personal growth, skills and perspective that students take away from a college education. The public seems confident that anyone who really wants to go to college can find a way. But people acknowledge that poor families have a tougher time.