NATIONAL CENTER FOR SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING STATISTICS

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

Evaluating the feasibility of collecting 

detailed race and ethnicity data 

about students and employees from 

their institutions

Michael Yamaner, NSF/NCSES

Jennifer Beck, NSF/NCSES

Laura Burns Fritch, RTI International

October 26, 2023
Disclaimer

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This presentation provides results of exploratory research by 

the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics 

(NCSES) within the National Science Foundation (NSF). This 

information is shared to inform interested parties of ongoing 

activities and to encourage further discussion. Views 

expressed are those of the presenter and not necessarily 

those of NCSES or NSF.
NATIONAL CENTER FOR SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING STATISTICS 

https://ncses.nsf.gov

National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics

Measuring America’s progress in science, technology, and innovation

Part of the National Science 

Foundation (NSF)

Located within the Directorate for Social, 

Behavioral, and Economic Sciences (SBE)

One of 13 principal federal 

statistical agencies

Overseen by the U.S. Chief Statistician 

within the White House Office of 

Management and Budget (OMB)

MISSION

Produce policy relevant, policy 

neutral statistical information 

on the U.S. science and 

engineering enterprise:

• Research and development

• Science and engineering workforce

• U.S. competitiveness in STEM

• STEM education in the United States

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NATIONAL CENTER FOR SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING STATISTICS 

https://ncses.nsf.gov

GSS

• Census of all U.S. academic institutions 

that grant research-oriented graduate 

degrees in science, engineering, or health 

(SEH) fields 

• Enumerates

o Master’s and doctoral students

o Postdoctoral researchers (postdocs)

o Doctorate-holding nonfaculty 

researchers (NFRs)

FFRDC Postdoc Survey

• Census of all FFRDCs that employ 

postdocs

• Enumerates

o Postdoctoral researchers (postdocs)

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GSS and FFRDC Postdoc Survey

Characteristics

Demographic characteristics, including sex, race, and ethnicity

Financial support, including source and mechanism

Aggregated by

Administrative unit
NATIONAL CENTER FOR SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING STATISTICS 

https://ncses.nsf.gov

Current GSS Race/Ethnicity Categories

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Methods

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NATIONAL CENTER FOR SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING STATISTICS 

https://ncses.nsf.gov

Recruitment

• Selected 51 of 719 GSS schools; goal to complete 25 

interviews with coordinators

• Selected 10 of 19 FFRDCs; goal to complete 5 interviews with 

coordinators

• E-mailed invitation to data collection coordinators

• Self-scheduled by clicking a link and selecting an available 

timeslot

• All interviews scheduled within one week

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NATIONAL CENTER FOR SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING STATISTICS 

https://ncses.nsf.gov

27 Participating GSS Schools

• Size: Ranged from fewer than 100 to over 3,000 graduate 

students

• School type: 22 public; 5 private

• Location: 22 U.S. states and territories

• Race and ethnicity of graduate students*:

o % White ranged from less than 10% to 90%

o At least 1 school:

 > 20% Asian, Black or African American, or Multiracial

 > 5% American Indian or Alaska Native, or Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific 

Islander

*U.S. citizens and permanent residents 8
NATIONAL CENTER FOR SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING STATISTICS 

https://ncses.nsf.gov

6 Participating FFRDCs

• Size: Ranged from fewer than 50 to over 400 postdocs

• Race and ethnicity of postdocs*:

o % White ranged from 50% to 100%

o At least 1 FFRDC:

 > 20% Asian

*U.S. citizens and permanent residents

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NATIONAL CENTER FOR SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING STATISTICS 

https://ncses.nsf.gov

Interview Protocol

• Interagency Technical Working Group developed a pool of 

questions

• Selected questions most pertinent to GSS/FFRDC

o Recordkeeping practices for graduate students and postdocs

 How and when race/ethnicity data collected, categories used, etc.

o Feedback on both versions of the question

 First impressions, alignment with current categories, feasibility of reporting, 

preference

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NATIONAL CENTER FOR SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING STATISTICS 

https://ncses.nsf.gov

Interview Procedures

• Interviews conducted online, 1 hour

• Audio and video recorded*

• Transcription via videoconferencing software*

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*With participants’ permission
Results

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NATIONAL CENTER FOR SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING STATISTICS 

https://ncses.nsf.gov

Record Data Collection and Maintenance

• Collected upon entry

o Graduate students = Application form

o Postdocs = Onboarding forms

• Not formally re-collected after entry

o Individuals can update their race/ethnicity if they choose

• Data stored in different systems

o Graduate students = Student records

o Postdocs = Human Resources

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NATIONAL CENTER FOR SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING STATISTICS 

https://ncses.nsf.gov

Race/Ethnicity Categories Currently Collected

• Race and ethnicity categories are based on OMB’s current 

statistical standards and other federal data collections

• Some follow additional standards

• None collect data in as much detail as the detailed version

• Few collect the Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) 

category

• Race is not always collected for Hispanic individuals, especially 

postdocs

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NATIONAL CENTER FOR SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING STATISTICS 

https://ncses.nsf.gov

Feedback on Minimum Categories

• Preferred version by majority of respondents

• Mixed opinions about the addition of the Middle Eastern or 

North African (MENA) category

• Ordering categories by prevalence caused diversity, equity, 

and inclusion (DEI) concerns

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NATIONAL CENTER FOR SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING STATISTICS 

https://ncses.nsf.gov

Feedback on Detailed Categories

• Concerns about the level of detail included:

o Why these detailed categories?

o Utility

o Data quality

o Burden

o Disclosure risk

o Coding/processing write-in responses

o Level of effort and resources needed

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NATIONAL CENTER FOR SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING STATISTICS 

https://ncses.nsf.gov

Limitations of Research

• Testing focused on categories in the self-report questions

• Participants were not always knowledgeable about all aspects 

of the data collection

• Input needed from administration with decision-making 

authority

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NATIONAL CENTER FOR SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING STATISTICS 

https://ncses.nsf.gov

Resources

Survey descriptions and methodology

GSS: https://ncses.nsf.gov/surveys/graduate-students-postdoctorates-se/2021#methodology

FFRDC Postdoc Survey: 

https://ncses.nsf.gov/surveys/ffrdc-postdocs/2021#methodology

2021 data

GSS:

https://ncses.nsf.gov/surveys/graduate-students-postdoctorates-se/2021#data

FFRDC Postdoc Survey:

https://ncses.nsf.gov/surveys/ffrdc-postdocs/2021#data

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@NCSESgov

https://ncses.nsf.gov 19

Michael Yamaner, NCSES GSS Survey Manager 

(myamaner@nsf.gov)

Jennifer Beck, NCSES Methodologist (jbeck@nsf.gov)

Laura Burns Fritch, RTI Methodologist (lbfritch@rti.org)
Slides for Post-Conference Version

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NATIONAL CENTER FOR SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING STATISTICS 

https://ncses.nsf.gov

Motivation for the Research

• January 2023: OMB released Initial Proposals for Updating 

OMB’s Race and Ethnicity Statistical Standards

• Two versions of a self-report race/ethnicity question proposed

• OMB requested NCSES and other federal statistical agencies 

test the proposed questions in the context of establishment 

surveys

• NCSES selected two related surveys for this research

o Survey of Graduate Students and Postdoctorates in Science and 

Engineering (GSS)

o Survey of Postdocs at Federally Funded Research and Development 

Centers (FFRDCs)

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Current Race/Ethnicity Questions

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NATIONAL CENTER FOR SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING STATISTICS 

https://ncses.nsf.gov

OMB’s 1997 Statistical Standard for the 

Collection of Race and Ethnicity

Are you Hispanic or Latino?

 Yes

 No

What is your race? Select one or more

American Indian or Alaska Native

Asian

Black or African American

Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander

White

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Proposed Race/Ethnicity Questions

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NATIONAL CENTER FOR SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING STATISTICS 

https://ncses.nsf.gov

Combined Question with Minimum Categories

What is your race or ethnicity?

Select all that apply.

 White

 Hispanic or Latino

 Black or African American

 Asian

 American Indian or Alaska Native

 Middle Eastern or North African

 Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander

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NATIONAL CENTER FOR SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING STATISTICS 

https://ncses.nsf.gov

Combined Question Detailed Categories

What is your race or ethnicity?

Select all that apply AND enter additional details in the spaces below. Note, you 

may report more than one group.

 White – Provide details below.

 German  Irish  English

 Italian  Polish  French

Enter, for example, Scottish, Norwegian, Dutch, etc.

 Hispanic or Latino – Provide details below.

 Mexican or  Puerto Rican Cuban

Mexican American

 Salvadoran  Dominican  Columbian

Enter, for example, Guatemalan, Spaniard, Ecuadorian, etc. 

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NATIONAL CENTER FOR SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING STATISTICS 

https://ncses.nsf.gov

Combined Question Detailed Categories

What is your race or ethnicity?

Select all that apply AND enter additional details in the spaces below. Note, you 

may report more than one group.

 Black or African American – Provide details below.

 African American  Jamaican  Haitian

 Nigerian  Ethiopian  Somali

Enter, for example, Ghanaian, South African, Barbadian, etc.

 Asian – Provide details below.

 Chinese  Filipino  Asian Indian

 Vietnamese  Korean  Japanese

Enter, for example, Pakistani, Cambodian, Hmong, etc. 

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NATIONAL CENTER FOR SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING STATISTICS 

https://ncses.nsf.gov

Combined Question Detailed Categories

What is your race or ethnicity?

Select all that apply AND enter additional details in the spaces below. Note, you 

may report more than one group.

 American Indian or Alaska Native– Enter, for example, Navajo Nation, Blackfeet 

Tribe, Mayan, Aztec, Native Village of Barrow Inupiat Tribal Government, Tlingit, etc.

 Middle Eastern or North African – Provide details below.

 Lebanese  Iranian  Egyptian

 Syrian  Moroccan  Israeli

Enter, for example, Algerian, Iraqi, Kurdish, etc.

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NATIONAL CENTER FOR SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING STATISTICS 

https://ncses.nsf.gov

Combined Question Detailed Categories

What is your race or ethnicity?

Select all that apply AND enter additional details in the spaces below. Note, you 

may report more than one group.

 Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander – Provide details below.

 Native Hawaiian  Samoan  Chamorro

 Tongan  Fijian  Marshallese

Enter, for example, Palauan, Tahitian, Chuukese, etc. 

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