There are inconsistencies in how race and ethnicity are conceptualized and contextually used. This study aims to increase the body of knowledge on the usage and understanding of the terms race and ethnicity. Qualitative analysis of 26 interviews conducted within the San Diego area is used to code themes and patterns from the data. Findings indicate most participants rarely consciously think about how they both define and use race and ethnicity. They also show race is avoided due to the negative connotations associated with the term. Race and ethnicity are found to be used interchangeably by participants, and ethnicity was determined to be the preferred substitute term for race. Race and ethnicity are not always used as they are defined. Understanding race as a socially constructed concept is absent from nearly all participants. Greater knowledge of how people use and understand race and ethnicity provides a solid foundation for the entire field of race studies. These findings could also prove valuable to scholars and practitioners specializing in cultural competence and inclusion.
