ɛkstˈɛndɪŋ fɹʌmðɪ ɐsˌɪmɪlˈeɪʃən θˈiəɹi, ɐ θˈɜːd ɡɹˈuːp ʌv skˈɑːlɚz pɹəpˈoʊzd ɐ sɛɡmˈɛntɪd ˌɪntᵻɡɹˈeɪʃən θˈiəɹi, stɹˈɛsɪŋ ðæt dˈɪfɹənt ɡɹˈuːps ʌv mˈaɪɡɹənts mˌaɪt fˈɑːloʊ dɪstˈɪŋkt tɹədʒˈɛktɚɹiz təwˈɔːɹdz ˈʌpwɚd ɔːɹ dˈaʊnwɚd moʊbˈɪlᵻɾi ˌɔn dˈɪfɹənt dᵻmˈɛnʃənz, dᵻpˈɛndɪŋ ˌɔn ðɛɹ ˌɪndᵻvˈɪdʒuːəl, kəntˈɛkstʃuːəl ænd stɹˈʌktʃɚɹəl fˈæktɚz.
Extending from the assimilation theory, a third group of scholars proposed a segmented integration theory, stressing that different groups of migrants might follow distinct trajectories towards upward or downward mobility on different dimensions, depending on their individual, contextual and structural factors.