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Revisiting the Dimensions of Acculturation: Cultural Theory and Psychometric Practice

University of California, Irvine

Olivia de la Rocha

California State University, Long Beach

Jaime Amsel

Holly A. Magafia

University of California, Irvine

M. Isabel Fernandez

University of Miami School of Medicine

Sarah Rulnick

L.A. County Department of Health Services

Although acculturation has frequently been employed as an organizing principle in social science research, there remains a lack of clarity regarding "the dimensions of acculturation. " The confusion arises from failure to distinguish between two technical meanings of the term dimension. This study differentiates the dimensionality of the various domains of behavior, values, and preferences (latent constructs) assessed in most measures of acculturation from the dimensionality associated with the way measures of acculturation are scored. Scoring reflects acculturation theory insofar as it suggests whether acculturation is conceptualized as unidimensional movementfrom native to host culture or allows for retention of the native culture as well, that is, biculturalism. Implications of the second meaning of dimension are explored by examining the importance of the way acculturation instruments are scored. Unidimensional and bidimensional scoring systems are differentiated, and a secondary analysis of data is presented to demonstrate the utility of bidimensional scoring.

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