Description

The Racial and Ethnic Microaggressions Scale (REMS-45) is a self-report questionnaire developed to measure the frequency of microaggressions experienced by individuals belonging to racial and ethnic minority groups. Microaggressions are subtle, often unintentional, discriminatory comments or behaviors directed at marginalized groups. These acts, while seemingly minor or harmless, can accumulate over time and contribute to psychological distress and a sense of alienation.
The REMS-45 consists of 45 items designed to capture a broad range of microaggressive experiences across six factors:
Assumptions of Inferiority: Microaggressions that suggest the target is less competent or capable because of their race or ethnicity.
Second-Class Citizen and Assumptions of Criminality: Experiences where individuals are treated as lesser or with suspicion because of their racial or ethnic background.
Microinvalidations: Comments or behaviors that negate or minimize the experiences and realities of racial and ethnic minorities.
Exoticization/Assumptions of Similarity: Stereotypical assumptions or overly generalized beliefs about a racial or ethnic group.
Environmental Microaggressions: Institutional or systemic behaviors and practices that reinforce racial and ethnic hierarchies.
Work and School Microaggressions: Discriminatory experiences specifically within academic or professional settings.

Data Analysis

Analyzing REMS-45 data involves assessing the frequency and impact of microaggressions reported by participants. The following steps outline a typical analysis process:
Data Collection: Administer the REMS-45 to a sample population that represents a diverse range of racial and ethnic backgrounds.
Scoring: Each item on the REMS-45 is scored based on the frequency of microaggression experiences. Scores can be summed to create a total score or subscale scores for each of the six factors.
Descriptive Statistics: Calculate means, standard deviations, and frequency distributions for the overall scale and each subscale to understand the central tendency and spread of microaggression experiences.
Reliability Analysis: Conduct Cronbach’s alpha to assess the internal consistency of the scale and its subscales.
Factor Analysis: Use exploratory or confirmatory factor analysis to validate the underlying structure of the scale. This analysis ensures that the items load appropriately onto their respective factors.
Correlation and Regression Analysis: Explore relationships between REMS-45 scores and other variables of interest, such as psychological distress, self-esteem, or academic performance. Regression analysis can help determine the predictive power of microaggressions on these outcomes.
Group Comparisons: Conduct ANOVA or t-tests to compare REMS-45 scores across different demographic groups, such as gender, age, or socioeconomic status.

Calibration

Calibration of the REMS-45 involves ensuring that the scale accurately measures the construct of microaggressions across different populations. This can involve:
Item Response Theory (IRT): Using IRT to evaluate how well individual items function across different subgroups, ensuring that items are not biased or misrepresentative.
Cross-validation: Administering the REMS-45 to different samples to confirm the reliability and validity of the scale.
Cultural Adaptation: Modifying or supplementing items to ensure relevance and appropriateness for diverse cultural contexts while retaining the scale’s psychometric properties.

Bibliography

Sue, D. W., Capodilupo, C. M., Torino, G. C., Bucceri, J. M., Holder, A. M. B., Nadal, K. L., & Esquilin, M. (2007). Racial microaggressions in everyday life: Implications for clinical practice. American Psychologist, 62(4), 271-286.
Nadal, K. L. (2011). The Racial and Ethnic Microaggressions Scale (REMS): Construction, reliability, and validity. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 58(4), 470-480.
Nadal, K. L., Issa, M. A., Griffin, K. E., Hamit, S., Lyons, O. B., & Wideman, M. (2011). Subtle and overt forms of Islamophobia: Microaggressions toward Muslim Americans. Journal of Muslim Mental Health, 6(2), 15-37.
Torres-Harding, S. R., Andrade, A. L., & Romero Diaz, C. E. (2012). The Racial Microaggressions Scale (RMAS): A new scale to measure experiences of racial microaggressions in African Americans. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 18(1), 20-28.
Nadal, K. L., Griffin, K. E., Wong, Y., Hamit, S., & Rasmus, M. (2014). The impact of racial microaggressions on mental health: Counseling implications for clients of color. Journal of Counseling & Development, 92(1), 57-66.