title: Micro-ecological behavior and intergroup contact.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: University of Ulster, Department of Psychology, Northern Ireland, UK. shelleymckeown@gmail.com
authors.forename: Shelley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McKeown
authors.forename: Ed
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cairns
authors.forename: Maurice
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stringer
authors.forename: Gordon
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rae
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001290:Attitude; D002410:Catholicism / Q000523:psychology; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology; D017144:Focus Groups; D006126:Group Processes; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D009660:Northern Ireland / Q000208:ethnology; D019370:Observation; D033303:Protestantism / Q000523:psychology; D011593:Psychology, Social / Q000379:methods; D012919:Social Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires