DATA-SURVEY: Migrant Acceptance Index: A Global Examination of the Relationship Between Interpersonal Contact and Attitudes toward Migrants

Authors

  • John H. Fleming Gallup
  • Neli Esipova The Gallup World Poll
  • Anita Pugliese Gallup
  • Julie Ray The Gallup World Poll
  • Rajesh Srinivasan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33182/bc.v8i1.576

Abstract

Using independently sampled Gallup World Poll survey data from 140 countries, we explored the relationship between interpersonal contact and attitudes toward migrants from a perspective not typically found in the social psychological literature. We hypothesized that respondents who report personally knowing a migrant living in their home country would be more accepting of migrants generally (using a three-item Migrant Acceptance Index (MAI) score) than respondents who do not know a migrant. Results supported our hypothesis in 134 of the 140 countries suggesting that the strong relationship between interpersonal contact and attitudes toward migrants is near-universal. We also quantified migrant acceptance at the country level, finding a wide spectrum of attitudes toward migrants. Low acceptance countries were located primarily in Eastern and Southeastern Europe and high acceptance countries were located in Northern Europe and sub-Saharan Africa. We discuss these results in the context of interpersonal contact theory (Allport, 1954) and the larger context of global migration.

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Author Biographies

John H. Fleming, Gallup

John H. Fleming, Ph.D., Chief Scientist, Gallup, The Gallup Building, 901 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20004, United States.

Neli Esipova, The Gallup World Poll

Neli Esipova is Regional Research Director for the Gallup World Poll.

Anita Pugliese, Gallup

Anita Pugliese is Director of Quality and Julie Ray is a writer and editor for the Gallup World Poll.

Julie Ray, The Gallup World Poll

Julie Ray is a writer and editor for the Gallup World Poll.

Rajesh Srinivasan

Rajesh Srinivasan is Regional Research Director for the Gallup World Poll.

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Published

2018-03-29

How to Cite

Fleming, J. H., Esipova, N., Pugliese, A., Ray, J. and Srinivasan, R. (2018) “DATA-SURVEY: Migrant Acceptance Index: A Global Examination of the Relationship Between Interpersonal Contact and Attitudes toward Migrants”, Border Crossing. London, UK, 8(1), pp. 103–132. doi: 10.33182/bc.v8i1.576.

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