The Arizona Youth Identity Project (AZYIP) examines how U.S.-born young adults in Arizona perceive their identity and status as Americans in the context of rapidly changing economic, demographic, and political conditions. Using mixed qualitative methods, AZYIP focuses on who, how, where and why U.S.-born young adults of diverse backgrounds reimagine, reclaim, rearticulate, and reconstitute national belonging.

We center our project on three interrelated aims to understand how rapidly changing economic, demographic, and political conditions: 

  • affects Latinx, Native American and white young adult’s definition of who is American
  • shapes their sense of national identity and belonging,
  • Motivates them to engage civically and politically to assert their identity as Americans.

Project Timeline

Pre-election

 (Sept-Oct 2020)

  • Survey 1
  • Interviews Wave 1
  • Photovoice

Post-Election

(Nov-Jan 2020-21)

  • Interviews Wave 2

100 days Post-Inauguration

(May-July 2021)

  • Interviews Wave 3

Pre-Midterm Elections

(Fall 2022)

  • Survey 2

Topics addressed in AZYIP surveys and interviews:

Survey 1

  • Background and Indentiy
  • Americanism
  • Political Interest and Affiliation
  • Discrimination
  • Identity and Belonging
  • Neighborhood and Community
  • COVID-19
  • Mental Health
  • Sociodemographics

Interview Wave 1

  • Racial and Ethnic Identity
  • American Identity
  • Discrimination
  • Race Relations
  • Political Engagement
  • Protests
  • COVID-19

Interview Wave 2

  • Neighborhood/Community
  • Political Socialization
  • Elections

Interview Wave 3

  • Ethnicity
  • Political Attitudes & Opinions
  • January 6th
  • Political Activities or Groups
  • COVID-19

Survey 2

  • Background and Identity
  • COVID-19 Experiences
  • Social Networks
  • Political Attitudes & Beliefs
  • Race Relations
  • Sources of Information
  • Health & Well-Being
  • Sociodemographics

Get Involved

Undergraduate and graduate students interested in joining AZYIP should contact Dr. Nilda Flores-Gonzalez at nfloresg@asu.edu