ARE YOU IN AN INTERRACIAL/INTERETHNIC RELATIONSHIP?

Romantically Tied, Racially Tugged:

A Study of Dating and Committed Interracial Romantic Relationships and Dialectical Tensions

My name is Jessica Rose Johnson and I am currently a graduate student working on my thesis research in interracial relationships and communication. My advisor, Dr. Amy N. Heuman, and I are interested in researching the dialectical tensions between heterosexual interracial romantic couples and the external community (i.e., friends, family, and the greater public). The information we gather will assist couples and researchers in gaining a better understanding of how interracial couples negotiate external influences within their relationships and how these experiences impact the maintenance of the relationship.

For our study, we are seeking interracial heterosexual couples who are currently in an exclusive dating, heavily committed, or engaged relationship to participate in a joint interview process. We ask for volunteers who have been in an interracial heterosexual romantic relationship for over one year in length. For the purpose of this study, interracial means you and your partner are of different races/ethnicities (Black/African American, White, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, Multiracial, etc.). Participants must be over 18 years of age.

Results from the study will help provide communication scholars and relationship professionals with an understanding of how interracial romantic couples negotiate and enact relationship maintenance strategies in communication with each other and the external community. This information might also be used to improve the communication between those involved in such romantic relationships and assist in bringing further awareness to the experiences of couples in interracial heterosexual romantic relationships.

Qualified participants will engage in a face-to-face interview lasting approximately 45-90 minutes. Detailed measures will be taken to ensure all information and responses will be kept confidential. After the interview, participants will be contacted to schedule a time to review the emergent research themes via a process of member checking whereby couples to verify and clarify emergent themes and interpretations with their understandings of the experiences they shared within the interview process. You will be emailed to schedule a time to review transcripts and emergent themes once initial data analysis is completed. Participation is strictly voluntary. If at any point you and your partner feel uncomfortable or want to terminate participation, you may do so.

If you and your partner would like to participate in the research study, please contact me or Dr. Amy N. Heuman in the Department of Communication Studies at Texas Tech University at (806) 742-3911 or by email at jessica.r.johnson@ttu.edu or a.heuman@ttu.edu. Thank you for your time and consideration.

*This research study has been approved by the Texas Tech University Protection of Human Subjects Committee (#503361)

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