University of Ulster, Department of Psychology, Northern Ireland, UK.
J Soc Psychol. 2012 May-Jun;152(3):340-58. doi: 10.1080/00224545.2011.614647.
Research evaluating intergroup contact has tended to rely on self-report measures. Drawing on recent micro-ecological research, the two studies reported here used a multi-method approach to examine contact in a more holistic fashion. This involved the measurement of observable behavior at the micro-level, intergroup attitudes via infrahumanization and focus groups. Participants were taking part in a community intervention program in Northern Ireland. We conclude that micro-ecological behavior is not necessarily indicative of outgroup attitudes. Although behavior and attitudes changed in line with one another in Study 1 (less aggregation and significantly less infrahumanization), there were no infrahumanization differences between those who sat beside an outgroup member and those who did not. Importantly, the work presented here illustrates a unique method that allows micro-ecological behavioral observations to be made for the first time in non-racial settings.
研究评估群体间接触往往依赖于自我报告的测量方法。本研究报告中的两项研究借鉴了最近的微观生态研究，采用多方法的方式更全面地考察接触。这涉及到微观层面上可观察行为的测量、通过类人化和焦点小组测量的群体间态度。参与者正在北爱尔兰参加一个社区干预计划。我们的结论是，微观生态行为不一定能反映对外群体的态度。虽然在研究 1 中，行为和态度朝着一致的方向变化（聚集减少，类人化显著减少），但与那些坐在外群体成员旁边的人相比，那些没有坐在外群体成员旁边的人在类人化方面没有差异。重要的是，这里呈现的工作说明了一种独特的方法，首次允许在非种族环境中进行微观生态行为观察。
