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As US society continues to diversify and calls for better measurements of racialized appearance increase, survey researchers need guidance about effective strategies for assessing skin color in field research. This study examined the consistency, comparability, and meaningfulness of the two most widely used skin tone rating scales (Massey–Martin and PERLA) and two portable and inexpensive handheld devices for skin color measurement (Nix colorimeter and Labby spectrophotometer). We collected data in person using these four instruments from forty-six college students selected to reflect a wide range of skin tones across four racial-ethnic groups (Asian, Black, Latinx, White). These college students, five study staff, and 459 adults from an online sample also rated forty stock photos, again selected for skin tone diversity. Our results—based on data collected under controlled conditions—demonstrate high consistency across raters and readings. The Massey–Martin and PERLA scale scores were highly linearly related to each other, although PERLA better differentiated among people with the lightest skin tones. The Nix and Labby darkness-to-lightness (L*) readings were likewise linearly related to each other and to the Massey–Martin and PERLA scores, in addition to showing expected variation within and between race ethnicities. In addition, darker Massey–Martin and PERLA ratings correlated with online raters’ expectations that a photographed person experienced greater discrimination. In contrast, the redness (a*) and yellowness (b*) undertones were highest in the mid-range of the rating scale scores and demonstrated greater overlap across race-ethnicities. Overall, each instrument showed sufficient consistency, comparability, and meaningfulness for use in field surveys when implemented soundly (e.g., not requiring memorization). However, PERLA might be preferred to Massey–Martin in studies representing individuals with the lightest skin tones, and handheld devices may be preferred to rating scales to reduce measurement error when studies could gather only a single rating.
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Best Practices for Measuring Skin Color in Surveys
Surveys that assess skin color support evidence building about colorism and related systemic inequalities that affect health and wellbeing. Methodologists have increasing choices for such assessments, including a growing array of digital images for rating scales and increasingly cost-effective handheld mechanical devices based on color science. Guidance is needed for choosing among these growing options. We used data from a diverse sample of 102 college students to produce new empirical evidence and practical guidance about various options. We compared three handheld devices that ranged in price, considering variations in their reliabilities and how their results differed by where on the body and with what device settings readings were taken. We also offered evidence regarding how reliably interviewers and participants could choose from a large array of color swatches offering variation in skin undertone (redness, yellowness) in addition to skin shade (lightness-to-darkness). Overall, the results were promising, demonstrating that modern handheld devices and rating scales could be feasibly and reliably used. For instance, results demonstrated that just one or two device readings were needed at any given location, and, the device readings and rating scale scores similarly captured the relative darkness of skin. In other cases, recommendations were less certain. For instance, skin undertones of redness and yellowness were more sensitive to device choices and body locations. We encourage future studies that pursue why such variability exists and for which substantive questions it matters most.
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- Award ID(s):
- 1921526
- PAR ID:
- 10585574
- Publisher / Repository:
- Scholastica
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Survey Practice
- Volume:
- 17
- Issue:
- 1
- ISSN:
- 2168-0094
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 1 to 15
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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- Free Publicly Accessible Full Text
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Accepted Manuscript1.0
- Journal Article:
- https://doi.org/10.29115/SP-2024-0005
