The argument that excluding demographic predictors amounts to color-blind racism is contested: inclusion can also produce racist decision-making¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study (2 entries) · theoretical r3 · q1
Currency · newest study 2023 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q1 i? Yu et al. (2021) and others argue that excluding protected attributes from dropout prediction models can be construed as subscribing to a colorblind ideology criticized as racist. → Baker 2023 q1 i? The authors argue demographic predictor variables may instead be interpreted through cultural racism and minimization-of-racism frames, attributing outcomes to immutable factors. → Baker 2023 (2)

Evidence¶

Baker 2023¶

Baker, R. S., Esbenshade, L., Vitale, J., & Karumbaiah, S. (2023). Using Demographic Data as Predictor Variables: a Questionable Choice. Journal of Educational Data Mining, 15(2). https://jedm.educationaldatamining.org/index.php/JEDM/article/view/619 doi:10.35542/osf.io/y4wvj

q1 · i? · theoretical · r3

The article quotes Yu et al. (2021, p. 98) arguing that "the deliberate exclusion of protected attributes" can be construed as colorblind ideology; it notes the same claim appears in Andrus & Villaneueve (2022) and Schwobel & Remmers (2022).

"the deliberate exclusion of protected attributes from dropout prediction models can be construed as subscribing to a 'colorblind' ideology, which has been criticized as a racist approach that serves to maintain the status quo."

Baker 2023 (2)¶

Baker, R. S., Esbenshade, L., Vitale, J., & Karumbaiah, S. (2023). Using Demographic Data as Predictor Variables: a Questionable Choice. Journal of Educational Data Mining, 15(2). https://jedm.educationaldatamining.org/index.php/JEDM/article/view/619. doi:10.35542/osf.io/y4wvj

q1 · i? · theoretical · r3

The authors' counter-argument (type e): given widespread implicit color-blind racism, "demographic predictor variables may be inte rpreted in accordance with Bonilla-Silva’s cultural racism and minimization of racism frames", communicating that a student is at risk due to immutable factors beyond school control, so actual racist practices are overlooked.

"Instead, demographic predictor variables may be inte rpreted in accordance with Bonilla-Silva’s cultural racism and minimization of racism frames."

Discussion¶

Related Claims¶

• Evidence is mixed on whether including demographic variables as predictors improves model performance in educational prediction — related
• Using demographic variables as predictors risks reinforcing biases embedded in training labels, including self-fulfilling prophecies — related
• Including demographic variables as predictors can reduce actionability by de-emphasizing correlated actionable risk factors and by discounting intervention effects — related
• Heterogeneity within demographic categories means group variables as predictors can disadvantage atypical group members and underrepresented groups — related
• Payne argues that color-blind ideology in schools precludes discussion of how outcomes and privilege are distributed by race — related
• Hiring without multiple agreed-upon data points leads decision-makers to rely on gut decisions that can disadvantage teachers of color — related
• Pre-service teachers with higher color-blind racial ideology scores had difficulties regulating emotions in racial situations — related