Advances in the Scientific Study of Asian Americans

Abstract

Three decades ago, researchers were lamenting the fact that little psychological research and knowledge were available concerning the Asian American population. The population was considered a model minority that had succeeded rather well in society. Both because of this image, which was in marked contrast to the well-publicized needs of other ethnic minority groups such as African American and Latinos, and because of their relatively small population in the United States, Asian Americans were not the target of much research attention. Over the past three decades, the situation has changed, albeit slowly. There is increasing recognition that the study of Asian Americans is important, not only for responding to the needs of this population but also for understanding more generally the nature of human beings. It should also be noted that while Asians constitute only 4 percent of the United States’ population, they comprise 60 percent of the world’s population. The advances in knowledge are apparent from the work of the researchers involved in this project. Their work has yielded new knowledge concerning Asian American well-being, the validity of research instruments and nosological systems, and appropriate research designs and methodological considerations.