Sociology

INTERRACIAL RELATIONSHIPS The purpose of the research was to offer an explanation for the changing trend in the participation in interracial sexual relationships in the course of switch to adulthood. It employed the use of life course viewpoint that focused on function of historical changes. The study aimed at describing a social phenomenon which cannot be ignored in the field of sociology due to its great impact in the society. The hypothesis statement of the research stated that, “ involvement in interracial sexual relationships tends to decrease with increase in the age among young adults.” (Joyner K, & Kao G. 2005). The study was designed to help demonstrate the relationship that exist between two main variables which are age and interracial sexual relationships. It was based on past findings as well as new opinions on the changing trends. It borrowed a lot from the works of past researchers in the same field and analyzing then so as to come up with more concrete evidence. The study sought to respond to some of the following questions as evident by the research findings.
(1) Do interracial sexual relationships differ among various age groups?
(2) Does transition into marriage has a role to play in the determination of the number of interracial sexual relationships?
(3) Do the current research findings have an impact on the future of family formations and establishments?
The study was both quantitative and qualitative in the sense that it sought to thoroughly establish the facts and figures in relation to interracial marriages. It was qualitative because it provided some of the underlying reasons why there was a decline in the number of interracial marriages as young people advanced in age. It was quantitative because it employed the use of actual data to measure the relationship between the two variables that were being studied. The data collection techniques employed were personal interviews conducted on a face-to-face basis and use of secondary methods based on the data that had been collected previously by the National Health and Social Life Survey (NHSLS). The analysis for the first section of the research was based on the current sexual relationship among the young adults that were interviewed in which some of them were found to be single, married and some were in cohabitation. The second part of the study was based on all the sexual relationships that were established by Add Health respondents. The respondents were asked to respond to questions such as their race, Hispanic status, age as well as marital status.
The final results of the study indicated that interracial sexual relationships had registered a tremendous decrease with age increase among Whites followed by Blacks and then Hispanics. It further showed that current trend in the nature of interracial relationships was high among the non-married and those who were cohabiting as compared to those who were already married. Interracial involvements declined at a high rate as people moved towards marriage and more stable family relationships. The study was of great importance in the sense that it assisted in unraveling the myth that existed on the relationships between the two sociological variables. It has enabled us to understand why there is a decline in interracial relationships as age increases. The study however indicated the need for future considerations on the role of diversity among different races on interracial relationships. It outlined the need for inclusion of key life transitions such as education levels and work conditions in studying interracial relationships.

Reference
Joyner K, & Kao G. (2005). Interracial Relationships and the Transition to Adulthood. . American Sociological Review 70. 4.
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