Centering the Heterogeneity of Black Adolescents' Experiences: Guidance for Within‐Group Designs among African Diasporic Communities

Abstract

Despite notable improvements in theory and methods that center the lived experiences of Black adolescents, White supremacy endures in developmental science. In this article, we focus on one methodological manifestation of White supremacy—sampling decisions that assume Black adolescents are a homogeneous group. We examine overlooked concerns about within‐group designs with Black adolescents, such as the erasure of some African diasporic communities in the United States. We first describe the homogeneity assumption and join other scholars in advocating for within‐group designs. We next describe challenges with current approaches to within‐group designs. We then provide recommendations for antiracist research that makes informed within‐group design sampling decisions. We conclude by describing the implications of these strategies for researchers and developmental science.

Achieving mental health equity in Black male suicide prevention

“…This sampling decision across studies has the potential to omit the diverse African diasporic communities that are present in the United States. By expanding study samples to account for heterogeneity in the Black male suicide experience ( 42 ), researchers have the potential to translate evidence-based research to support populations most at risk of experiencing mental health crises, including but not limited to nativity, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and gender identity.…”

Black males and school counselors: Do they experience the culture in counseling programs and departments differently from Black females?

“…The practice of homogenizing Black youth in research may mask differences in their educational experiences, needs, and outcomes (Bryan, Williams, et al., 2022; Ross et al., 2020; Volpe et al., 2022). Indeed, scholars and policymakers frequently treat Black males and females as if they have the same experiences in schools.…”

“…Indeed, scholars and policymakers frequently treat Black males and females as if they have the same experiences in schools. Examining race and gender allows us to better understand the interlocking systems of oppression that affect Black youth (Volpe et al., 2022). While Black males and females both experience discrimination and racial trauma, disproportionate discipline referrals and punishment, such as suspensions in schools, and a similar lack of school counseling services, fundamental differences in their experiences may exist (Bryan, Williams, et al., 2022; Edwin & Daniels, 2022).…”

“…Therefore, we are seeking to continually examine and challenge the ways in which quantitative research, regression methods, and secondary data analysis perpetuate anti‐Black racism and stereotypes and to understand how to conduct such research through an antiracist lens (Garcia & Mayorga, 2018; Gillborn et al., 2018; Ross et al., 2020; Van Dusen & Nissen, 2022). We understand that one way to better represent the experiences of Black youth is to examine the intersection of race and gender (Ross et al., 2020; Van Dusen & Nissen, 2022; Volpe et al., 2022). Therefore, in this study we attempt to explore how schools and school counseling programs affect Black students differentially to better understand the specific needs of Black male and female students and how school counselors may better meet those needs.…”

“…Therefore, in this study we attempt to explore how schools and school counseling programs affect Black students differentially to better understand the specific needs of Black male and female students and how school counselors may better meet those needs. Examining intersectional affects and within‐group designs will help us to better explore the heterogeneity among Black youth and understand the interlocking systems of oppression that affect them across different identities, such as gender (Volpe et al., 2022). Certainly, research with large secondary datasets often masks subgroup differences within each racial group (Ross et al., 2020).…”