A preliminary report on a new measure: Internalization of the Model Minority Myth Measure (IM-4) and its psychological correlates among Asian American college students

J Couns Psychol. 2010 Jan;57(1):114-27. doi: 10.1037/a0017871.

Abstract

This investigation is a preliminary report on a new measure of internalization of the model minority myth. In 3 studies, there was evidence for the validation of the 15-item Internalization of the Model Minority Myth Measure (IM-4), with 2 subscales. The Model Minority Myth of Achievement Orientation referred to the myth of Asian Americans' greater success than other racial minority groups associated with their stronger work ethics, perseverance, and drives to succeed. The Model Minority Myth of Unrestricted Mobility referred to the myth of Asian Americans' greater success than other racial minority groups associated with their stronger belief in fairness of treatment and lack of perceived racism or barriers at school or work. The 2-subscale structure of the IM-4 was supported by a combination of exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, with support of discriminant, convergent, and incremental validity, as well as internal reliability and stability over 2 weeks. The IM-4 is a new measure that taps into a uniquely racialized experience of Asian Americans with research and clinical implications.

Publication types

  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Achievement
  • Adolescent
  • Asian / psychology*
  • Culture*
  • Drive
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Internal-External Control*
  • Male
  • Minority Groups / psychology*
  • Motivation
  • Personality Inventory / statistics & numerical data*
  • Psychometrics / statistics & numerical data
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Resilience, Psychological
  • Social Values
  • Statistics as Topic
  • Stereotyping*
  • Students / psychology*
  • Young Adult