The psychological study of ethnic behavior draws from many disciplines. The psychologist involved in ethnic research obtains information and data from such fields as ethnology, sociology, anthropology, social psychology, medicine, and social work. In their guidelines for research applicants, the federal government and research sponsors increasingly ask for more interdisciplinary collaboration. These guidelines fit well into the study of ethnic behavior, because important data outside the traditional realm of psychological research can be relevant.

Ethnic research can be found under many terms; for example, interdisciplinary, cross-cultural, minorities, racial, ethnic, multicultural, and indigenous populations. Those involved in these studies make distinctions among these terms. But for most people, some of these terms are frequently used in a synonymous manner. Ethnic research can also be found under groupings ...