Research on disparities by skin color has been of increasing interest in the social, behavioral, and economic sciences over recent decades, but measurement has proven an ongoing challenge. Interviewer-coded skin color is simple to collect in the field but relies on coarse and subjective categories; handheld instruments for objective physical measurements of skin color have the arguable advantages of increased replicability and precision, but adoption in many disciplines has been limited. Although broad associations between skin lightness and social, behavioral, and economic advantage have been established, lack of replicable measurement hinders efforts to precisely quantify variation between individuals, especially across contexts and over time.

In this project we conduct experimental research testing the reliability and validity of commonly used skin color measurement tools with the objective of facilitating the collection of consistent and commensurable skin color data in survey and other field settings. We additionally pursue research on how skin color is perceived in social settings, and on how various measures of skin color inform our understanding of  individuals’ collective identities with shared communities as well as their experiences of stereotyping and inequality.

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under grant No. 1921526.