Examining Culture within a Quantitative Empirical Research Framework

This paper raises the question of how to best capture dynamic cultural processes in empirical research related to ethnic minority children and youth''s mental health. Three constructs, acculturation, ethnic identity, and ethnic minority socialization, are presented as examples of measurable dimensions of culture that can be used to enrich our understanding of the etiology, course, and treatment of mental health problems and to better help us develop policies to serve what will soon be the majority of children and youth in this country.