physics

Self defined ethnicity

Self defined ethnicity is a physics topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Self defined ethnicity rather than just read about it. In short: Self defined ethnicity (SDE) codes are a set of codes used by the Home Office in the United Kingdom to classify an individual's ethnicity according to that person's self-definition. Codes The codes are also called "18 + 1" codes, as there are 18 of them, plus one code (NS) for "not stated".

Key takeaways

Self defined ethnicity belongs to physics; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Self defined ethnicity to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Self defined ethnicity from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

Self defined ethnicity (SDE) codes are a set of codes used by the Home Office in the United Kingdom to classify an individual's ethnicity according to that person's self-definition.

Codes The codes are also called "18 + 1" codes, as there are 18 of them, plus one code (NS) for "not stated". In addition to the previously used 16+1 codes, they contain the categories W3 and O2, while A4 is now replacing O1 (Chinese). The code system originated in the 2001 United Kingdom census based on Recommendation 61 of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry Report (SLIR). British police forces are required to use the SDE 18+1 codes (as opposed to the commonly used radio shorthand IC codes) when spoken contact has taken place and an individual has been given an opportunity to state their self-perceived ethnicity.

List of SDE codes White W1 – British W2 – Irish W3 – Gypsy or Irish Traveller W9 – Any other White background Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups M1 – White and Black Caribbean M2 – White and Black African M3 – White and Asian M9 – Any other Mixed or Multiple background Asian or Asian British A1 – Indian A2 – Pakistani A3 – Bangladeshi A4 – Chinese A9 – Any other Asian background Black, Black British, Caribbean or African B1 – Caribbean B2 – African B9 – Any other Black, Black British or Caribbean background Other ethnic groups O2 – Arab O9 – Any other ethnic group Not stated NS – Not Stated.

See also Classification of ethnicity in the United Kingdom IC codes

References

External links Ethnicity facts and figures. Government data about the UK's different ethnic groups.

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Self defined ethnicity

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Self defined ethnicity claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In physics, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Self defined ethnicity before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Self defined ethnicity ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Self defined ethnicity

In research: Self defined ethnicity appears in physics research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Self defined ethnicity in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Self defined ethnicity is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Demographics of the United Kingdom, Encodings, Law enforcement in the United Kingdom, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Self defined ethnicity outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Self defined ethnicity in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Self defined ethnicity means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Self defined ethnicity out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Self defined ethnicity in simple terms?

Self defined ethnicity (SDE) codes are a set of codes used by the Home Office in the United Kingdom to classify an individual's ethnicity according to that person's self-definition. Codes The codes are also called "18 + 1" codes, as there are 18 of them, plus one code (NS) for "not stated".

Why does Self defined ethnicity matter?

Because it connects several physics ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Self defined ethnicity?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Self defined ethnicity.