Research on Race and Ethnic Politics and the ANES

• In Event: Celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the ANES: New Directions

Abstract

The American National Election Studies (ANES) provides U.S. public politics the
opportunity to understand the American citizenry, including sociodemographic
backgrounds and political beliefs. The longevity and consistency of the ANES has facilitated
research both methodologically and substantively across the discipline of political science.
In my work, I have used the ANES to understand prejudice toward marginalized groups
including Black and African Americans, immigrants, and Muslims. Beyond this, however,
the ANES provides a useful resource in my survey experimental research. I have used the
ANES as a source of survey question wording. This is especially important considering how
small differences in wording and response options can lead to measurement error. The
ANES is the gold standard for researchers in this regard. I also use the ANES for important
demographic information regarding how my samples match up to national averages.
Although the American Community Survey provides some demographic information such
as age or educational attainment, the ANES allows us to see how closely our samples align
with national averages along political dimensions. Even if the main text of my scholarship
does not include analyses from the ANES, I have yet to work on a paper that does not use
these data in some capacity. With ethnoracial politics at the center of public scrutiny, the
ANES protects scholars working on “controversial” topics by ensuring our work meets the
standards set by this important study.

Author

• Amanda Sahar d'Urso, Georgetown University