Exploring Ethnic Identity Through Social Networking Sites: A Q Methodology Study With Immigrant-Origin College Students

In this mixed methods study, Q methodology was used to identify patterns of ethnic identity exploration via social networking sites for college students from multiethnic, immigrant-origin backgrounds. Drawing from the community cultural wealth (CCW) social capital framework (Yosso, 2005), a Q-sort of 47 statements was constructed. Based on factor analysis, 3 resultant factor groups emerged: Active Explorers, Limited Explorers, and Filtered Explorers. Variability between groups in social capital, as reflected in social networking sites use, has implications for understanding ethnic identity exploration trajectories for immigrant-origin college students.