Data and Methods

Abstract

This chapter describes the data and methods used to analyze rates of poverty at the individual and contextual levels for Mexican Americans and Mexican immigrants in the Southwestern United States. The individual-level data were extracted from the American Community SurveyAmerican Community Survey, 2006 using the IPUMSIPUMS system provided by the Minnesota Population Center. The focus is on four dependent variables, namely, extreme poverty extreme poverty, 100% poverty, low income, and relative poverty relative poverty status. These outcomes are examined relative to several principal independent variables including ethnicity, citizenship status, undocumentedundocumented status (for Mexican immigrants) and type of occupation, among others. As the results are considered on the basis of a binary dependent variable (i.e. likelihood of reporting to any of the four outcomes of poverty), logistic regressionLogistic regression is the proper method of analysis and is described in full detail. This is followed by descriptive tables containing the selected variables and their definitions.