| |
| author |
Priya Dutt
| | title |
The Roles of Mediated and Direct Intergroup Contact in Shaping Attitudes Toward Immigrants
| | abstract |
This study investigated the relationships between direct contact and mediated contact
with attitudes toward immigrants. Intergroup Contact Theory posits that meaningful
interaction with members of an outgroup influences overall attitudes toward that
outgroup and toward people perceived as belonging to that outgroup. Moreover,
intergroup contact can influence attitude toward outgroups through consumption of media
as well, known as mediated contact. This study tested whether positive direct contact and
mediated contact with immigrants who are Hispanic/Latino/of Other Spanish Origin
improved attitudes toward immigrants entering the country through the US-Mexican
border. Furthermore, the study also tested whether the influence of contact on attitudes
were driven by changes in emotions and perceived threat. The participants were 249
American adults recruited through Amazon mTurk, an online survey platform. Results
indicated that direct contact, but not mediated contact, had an impact on attitudes toward
immigrants — and that this impact was due to the effects of contact on positive emotions
and perceived threat. This study contributes to the limited literature that compares the
effects of direct and mediated contact and that compares the factors influencing the
effects of each kind of contact. Future studies should investigate why direct but not
mediated contact had an effect.
| | school |
The College of Liberal Arts, Drew University
| | degree |
B.A. (2019)
|
| advisor |
Scott Morgan
|
| committee |
Jessica Lakin
Sangay Mishra
|
| full text | PDutt.pdf |
| |
