%0 Journal Article %J Annual Review of Political Science %D 2016 %T Race as a 'Bundle of Sticks': Designs that Estimate Effects of Seemingly Immutable Characteristics %A Maya Sen %A Omar Wasow %X

Although understanding the role of race, ethnicity, and identity is central to political science, methodological debates persist about whether it is possible to estimate the effect of something ``immutable.'' At the heart of the debate is an older theoretical question: is race best understood under an essentialist or constructivist framework? In contrast to the ``immutable characteristics'' or essentialist approach, we argue that race should be operationalized as a ``bundle of sticks'' that can be disaggregated into elements. With elements of race, causal claims may be possible using two designs: (1) studies that measure the effect of exposure to a racial cue and (2) studies that exploit within-group variation to measure the effect of some manipulable element. These designs can reconcile scholarship on race and causation and offer a clear framework for future research.

%B Annual Review of Political Science %V 19 %P 499-522 %8 2016 %G eng %U http://www.annualreviews.org/doi/10.1146/annurev-polisci-032015-010015