Original scientific paper
Testing the Multicomponent Model of Intergroup Attitudes and Accompanied Open-Ended Measures
Renata FRANC
Abstract
According to the multicomponent model of intergroup
attitudes our attitudes towards groups are based on emotions
toward group members, beliefs about specific characteristics
of members of the social group and beliefs about which
values are promoted or blocked by the group members. The
first aim of this study was to check the validity and reliability
of the open-ended measures for assessing components of
attitudes towards groups, and the second aim was to test the
multicomponent model of intergroup attitudes. The study
examined attitudes toward two groups as attitude objects.
General attitude was assessed by semantic differential scales.
On the bases of data analysis with regard to the content and
favorability of subjects’ (N=119) free-responses it was
concluded that open-ended measures are valid indicators of
attitudinal components. The split-half reliability of open
ended measures are satisfactory although lower than mean
reliability indices found in literature. A multiple regression
analysis revealed that stereotypes provided a significant
contribution to the prediction of attitude towards both
groups. Affective responses were a significant unique
predictor for attitude towards only one group whereas
symbolic beliefs in both cases were not predictive of the
general attitude. The results do not support the importance
of symbolic beliefs as a part of the cognitive basis of
attitudes, which is the main new part of the multicomponent
model of intergroup attitudes with regard to the general
multicomponent model of attitudes.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
20300
URI
Publication date:
28.2.2000.
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