Grijalva, J. A. (2024). From Binary to Multidimensional: Reframing Latino Acculturation in Political Science. University of Notre Dame. Includes Dataset. https://doi.org/10.7274/26308765.v1 

This dissertation introduces the Multidimensional Latino Acculturation Model (MLAM), challenging traditional binary frameworks in Latino political science research by capturing the complexity and diversity of Latino acculturation pathways. Using data from the 2006 Latino National Survey (LNS) of 4,785 participants, the MLAM identifies four acculturation orientations, including hybrid identities such as Bicultural and newly defined Demicultural orientations. Through innovative non-parametric methodologies and cluster analyses, including Gaussian Mixture Models and K-Means, the model demonstrates robust empirical support for well-defined clusters, validated by metrics like the Silhouette Score and Dunn Index. The findings reveal critical flaws in binary models, which fail to represent three-quarters of Latinos, and connect these orientations to distinct political identities and issue-focused cross-pressures. Bicultural individuals exhibit strong dual identification and robust support for immigrant-friendly policies, while Demicultural individuals show moderate cultural identification and more varied political behaviors. This research advances a decolonial and empirically grounded framework for understanding Latino acculturation and its political implications, offering a transformative tool for future research in Latino studies and broader social science disciplines.

Grijalva, J. A. "Beyond Assimilation: A Multidimensional Model of Acculturation Using Cluster Analysis." Manuscript ready for submission.

This paper introduces an innovative methodological framework—Comparative Cluster Analysis (CCA)—to challenge traditional binary models of acculturation in political science. Leveraging data from the 2006 Latino National Survey, the study empirically validates the Multidimensional Latino Acculturation Model (MLAM), which reconceptualizes acculturation as a fluid, bidirectional process. Unlike previous studies that rely on predefined categories, the CCA identifies natural, data-driven acculturation patterns, uncovering distinct orientations: Bicultural, Assimilationist, Culture-Affirming, and notably, a previously unidentified "Demicultural" orientation. This methodological innovation provides rigorous evidence that hybrid cultural experiences dominate Latino acculturation processes. These findings fundamentally challenge and refine how political science understands Latino political behavior and acculturation, offering an empirically robust alternative to oversimplified binary frameworks.

Grijalva, J. A. (2025). Navigating Cross-Pressures: How Acculturation Shapes Latino Political Behavior. Paper presented at the Midwest Political Science Association Annual Conference, April 2025, Chicago, IL.

This paper applies validated acculturation orientations—bicultural, demicultural, assimilationist, and culture-affirming—to analyze their influence on Latino political behavior, with a specific focus on party identification, ideology, and cross-pressure issues such as immigration. By drawing on data from the Latino National Survey (LNS), the study highlights how these orientations illuminate the nuanced intersection of racial/ethnic dynamics and political attitudes. The findings suggest that acculturation is a foundational value system shaping Latino political identities and preferences, particularly in contexts of racialized policy debates and partisan alignment. This work contributes to broader discussions about how cultural integration, identity, and racial/ethnic experiences intersect to drive political heterogeneity in the Latino electorate.

Supplementary Materials and Replication Data
 
The analytical scripts, data analyses, supplementary reports, and conference presentations related to my research on Latino political behavior and acculturation are available at:

Grijalva, J. A. "A Meta-Analysis of Acculturation and Political Behavior: Challenging the Binary Framework in Political Science." Manuscript in preparation for submission to Political Science Research and Methods. 

This project critically examines how acculturation is conceptualized and operationalized in political science research, focusing on its influence on political behavior among migrant-origin populations in the United States. Through a meta-analysis of 23 peer-reviewed studies published between 1995 and 2023, this study identifies a dominant reliance on binary acculturation models, which often conflate acculturation with assimilation. These models tend to prioritize observable demographic and behavioral indicators while neglecting psychological and socioeconomic dimensions of acculturation. By highlighting these methodological limitations, the meta-analysis advocates for a shift toward more inclusive, multidimensional frameworks that better capture the complexity of acculturation processes and their diverse impacts on political engagement and attitudes. 

Grijalva, J. A., & Fraga, L. R. (2025). "Latino support for Trump in 2024: Trends and insights from an empirical analysis." Political Science Now, APSA's 2024 Post-Election Reflection Series. Retrieved from https://politicalsciencenow.com/2024-post-election-reflection-series-latino-support-for-trump-in-2024-trends-and-insights-from-an-empirical-analysis/

This study introduces a rigorous, hybrid methodological framework to examine the growing support for Donald Trump among Latino voters in the 2024 election. Employing both CART (Classification and Regression Trees) decision-tree analyses and Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA), we uncover complex interactions between gender, identity, ideological orientations, and voting behavior. This integrated methodological approach reveals nuanced patterns of political alignment that traditional voter models overlook, providing valuable insights into Latino electoral dynamics and their strategic implications for future political coalitions. 

Grijalva, J. A. "Intersectional Subgroup Analysis of Acculturation and Political Behavior Among Latinos." In the data analysis stage.

This study extends the analysis of my dissertation by applying an intersectional lens to examine how acculturation orientations vary across key subgroups within the Latino population. Focusing on gender, generational status, nationality, and birth origin, this work investigates the nuanced impacts of these factors on political behavior, identity, and attitudes. Using data from the Latino National Survey (LNS), the study identifies intersections of acculturation, race/ethnicity, and socio-demographic variables, shedding light on the heterogeneity of Latino political identities. This work contributes to the growing body of literature emphasizing intersectionality as a crucial framework for understanding political behavior in racially and ethnically diverse groups. 

Grijalva, J. A. "Measuring Latino Identity: Lessons from the 2006 LNS and Implications for Survey Research." In the data analysis stage. 

Survey design shapes how researchers understand political behavior, particularly in complex, heterogeneous populations like Latinos in the United States. While the 2006 Latino National Survey (LNS) takes a nuanced approach—measuring Latino, Hispanic, and national/ancestral identities independently and assessing the strength of each—the 2024 American National Election Study (ANES) collapses these dimensions into a single category. This simplification risks introducing bias, reducing explanatory power, and losing critical insights into how identity intersects with key political outcomes. Despite advancements in survey methodology over the past two decades, the ANES continues to rely on an outdated and overly simplistic framework, limiting its ability to capture Latino political heterogeneity. This study addresses this gap by comparing these two surveys, quantifying the information lost through simplification, and evaluating its implications for the study of Latino political behavior. 

This research employs a multilayered methodological approach to compare identity measurement frameworks in the LNS and ANES. The first layer involves a descriptive analysis to illustrate the richness and granularity of identity data in the LNS compared to the collapsed identity categories in the ANES. Next, using a predictive modeling framework, the study simulates the effects of collapsing LNS’s detailed identity measures into ANES’s simplified format, quantifying the loss of variance and diversity in the data. Finally, statistical models evaluate how each survey’s identity measures predict two key outcomes: party identification and policy preferences. This multilayered approach demonstrates the methodological and substantive consequences of oversimplified identity measures, offering a critique of prevailing survey practices and actionable recommendations for improving the design of political science surveys to better capture Latino political heterogeneity. 

Grijalva, J. A. (Principal Architect and Implementation Lead), Luis R. Fraga (Principal Investigator of Record), and Mark A. Sanders (Co-Principal Investigator). "Reenvisioning Multiracial Democracy: Ethnoracial Diversity in the U.S. and Abroad." Funded by the Notre Dame Democracy Initiative Catalyst Grant ($100,000), 2024–2026. 

Reenvisioning Multiracial Democracy: Ethnoracial Diversity in the U.S. and Abroad is a $100,000 project funded by the Notre Dame Democracy Initiative Catalyst Grant. This initiative examines the complex relationship between ethnoracial diversity and democratic institutions, focusing on why democracies struggle to incorporate diverse groups and how this struggle shapes democratic resilience or decline. The project challenges the notion that multiculturalism destabilizes democracy by exploring how institutions adapt to ensure the rights and privileges of all citizens in multiracial societies. 

The grant supports an interdisciplinary working group, a one-day conference, and an edited volume. It also includes a micro-grant program to fund research on multiracial democratic action and invites leading experts to contribute to both scholarly and community outreach activities. My role as Principal Architect and Implementation Lead involves designing the project’s framework, securing funding, and overseeing all aspects of implementation, from convening the interdisciplinary working group to managing the conference and contributing to the edited volume. This initiative positions the Institute for Latino Studies and the Initiative on Race and Resilience at the forefront of advancing scholarship on democratic inclusion and resilience. 

Grijalva, J. A. ”Exploring Latino Acculturation Through Non-Parametric Cluster Analysis.” Presented at the Midwest Association for Public Opinion Research (MAPOR) 2024 Annual Conference, Embassy Suites Downtown Chicago, November 23, 2024.

Grijalva, J. A. ”Navigating Cross-Pressures: How Multidimensional Acculturation Shapes Latino Political Behavior.” Accepted for presentation at the Midwest Political Science Association (MPSA) 82nd Annual Conference, Chicago, IL, April 5, 2025.

Grijalva, J. A. "Navigating Cross-Pressures: How Acculturation Shapes Latino Political Behavior". Presentation accepted for the Keeping the Republic Conference, Rooney Center for Democracy, University of Notre Dame, May 7, 2025.

Grijalva, J. A. "The Resilience Toolkit: Building Foundations for Professional and Personal Growth." Workshop presentation accepted for the Pathways Summit, University of Arizona, September, 2025.

Grijalva, J. A. "Beyond the Binary: Rethinking Latino Acculturation in Political Science." Academic presentation accepted for the Pathways Summit, University of Arizona, September, 2025.