Sharon Quinsaat Wins $30,000 Grant from the Russell Sage Foundation

A new grant will support Grinnell Professor of Sociology Sharon Quinsaat’s research on the underlying factors that contribute to the emergence of conservative attitudes among Filipino immigrants in the United States. Quinsaat and her collaborator Nico Ravanilla, assistant professor of political science at the University of California-San Diego, have been awarded a $30,000 Pipeline Grant from the Russell Sage Foundation in support of their project, “Understanding Support for U.S. Conservative Politics among Filipino Immigrants." 

The research initiative aims to shed light on the complex web of factors that shape the political beliefs of Filipino immigrants in America, aligning them with conservative ideologies. Similar patterns of immigrant conservatism have been observed among Hispanic communities during the 2020 U.S. presidential election, making this study all the more timely and significant. 

To unravel this intricate narrative, Quinsaat and Ravanilla plan to employ a multifaceted research approach, combining surveys, interviews, archival methods, and participant observations. The initial phase of their investigation will take place in Hawaii, the state with the longest history of Filipino immigration. By conducting surveys and engaging in personal interviews, the researchers hope to gain a deeper understanding of the forces at play in the formation of conservative attitudes among this immigrant group. 

This project represents the first phase of a comprehensive study that will extend its reach to various sites across the United States. The findings from the research will provide critical insights into the factors influencing political ideologies among Filipino immigrants and may contribute to a broader understanding of immigrant conservatism in general. 

The Pipeline Grants program, offered in collaboration with the Economic Mobility and Opportunity program at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, has long been a facilitator of transformative social research. By supporting innovative projects like this one, the Russell Sage Foundation aims to drive the growth of knowledge and to foster dialogue surrounding critical societal issues.