Anti-racist researchers combat inequality and racism by conceptualizing, implementing, and disseminating research that dismantles racism, oppression, discrimination, and structural inequalities. This presentation offers participants an opportunity to learn how to engage in anti-racist research by presenting a counter-narrative to the traditional conceptualization and implementation of research with Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC).

Theories are tools used to identify and solve problems and should consider the role of racism when conducting anti-racist research. Andrea Murray-Lichtman will explore the current debate about centering race and racial equity in research, policy, and practice. The engaging conversation will encourage participants to evaluate the implications of their research, policy, and practice goals in light of history and the current climate. She will end by exploring a path forward and determining possibilities gained by centering race and racial equity in research, policy, and practice.

Measurement in research is critical as it lays the foundation for a more accurate understanding of the magnitude of a phenomenon, the impact of an intervention, or other causal relationships that will translate into practice models and policies that have real-life implications on people’s lives. In this panel, Kirsten Kainz will provide a brief review of recommendations for social science measurement from the National Research Council (2011) and reposition those recommendations within a systems science worldview for the purpose of proposing anti-racist measurement practices. Underlying the presentation will be the assumption that not all system science is anti-racist, but anti-racist science will require systemic framings. A set of critical questions to guide anti-racist measurement practice will be discussed. Melissa Villodas, LMSW, will be presenting on a study that used exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses to investigate the empirical and theoretical meaningfulness of the modified Neighborhood Cohesion Index within a population of African American youth living in public housing. Michael Lambert will present on the theoretical and empirical methods of item response theory (IRT), which can permit antiracist measurement across different socioethnic groups.