Annotated Bibliography Worksheet

1. Citation (ASA Style):

Valdez, Zulema. 2006. “Segmented Assimilation among Mexicans in the Southwest.”

Sociological Quarterly 47:397-424

2. What is the primary research question or thesis of this article?

The author analyzes the length of residency and the origin of Mexicans in the Southwest
relation to the income and self-employment outcomes of low- and high- skilled workers.

3. What are the characteristics of the population studied? How many

people, ages, genders, race/ethnicity/nationality, professions, etc.?
How were these people selected?

The population being studied are U.S.-born, non-Hispanic white, U.S.-born Mexican and
foreign-born Mexican men and women. The researchers only took a sample within their
classification of the working age which is 25 to 64 years old. The sample was selected on
the basis of what race/ethnicity/nationality they chose on the 2000 census.

4. What research method(s) was employed by the researchers? Was

this appropriate for the population and the research question? Were
there limitations to this method?

The study is a cross-sectional study of 2000 census. The data collected broadens previous
quantitative research on the topic of segmented-assimilation.

5. What were the primary findings of the research?

The primary findings of this research indicates that hourly earnings of the low-skilled
workers tend to decrease as it identifies with the downward assimilation theory, in
contrast to a consistent upward swing amid high-skilled workers identifying with Anglo-
conformity. Also, the researchers found that the self-employment earnings are the highest
among high-skilled, U.S.-born workers.

6. Critique this article; discuss method, findings, analysis, writing style,

or other elements of the research project.

The findings in this article provides tangible documentation to an issue that has been
obvious in American society since the introduction of Mexican immigrants, U.S.-born
and foreign-born alike. Moreover, the data provides a basis for future examination into
the issue in a future cross-section of time.