This month we are highlighting the learning module, “Investigating the Effects of Race and Gender on Earnings in the United States” by Jill Bouma, Berea College. This module teaches undergraduate students to analyze American Community Survey data, focusing on the impact of race and gender on earnings in the U.S. Through hands-on activities, students will formulate testable hypotheses, interpret bivariate tables, and explore income inequality at national, regional, and state levels, including comparisons with Kentucky.
Author(s) – Jill Bouma, Berea College
Do women really make less than men? Do people of color actually make less than whites? Compare national, regional and state data. How does Kentucky rank in terms of income inequality compared to national data? How do other states compare to KY and to the nation as a whole?
Context for Use
This activity is used in a Problems in American Institutions class for undergraduate students. This activity explores topics of race/ethnicity and gender on earnings in the United States.
Skill
Using software to access and analyze census data
Identifying independent and dependent variables
Forming testable hypotheses using quantitative data
Quantitative Writing
Learning how to construct, read, and interpret bivariate tables displaying frequencies and percentages
Access all modules here