Developing an Intergroup Anxiety toward Muslims Scale
General Material Designation
[Thesis]
General Material Designation
[Thesis]
General Material Designation
[Thesis]
General Material Designation
[Thesis]
First Statement of Responsibility
Patricia Hopkins
Subsequent Statement of Responsibility
Shook, Natalie J.
.PUBLICATION, DISTRIBUTION, ETC
Name of Publisher, Distributor, etc.
West Virginia University
Date of Publication, Distribution, etc.
2014
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION
Specific Material Designation and Extent of Item
95
GENERAL NOTES
Text of Note
Committee members: Gentzler, Amy; McNeil, Daniel
NOTES PERTAINING TO PUBLICATION, DISTRIBUTION, ETC.
Text of Note
Place of publication: United States, Ann Arbor; ISBN=978-1-321-20484-1
DISSERTATION (THESIS) NOTE
Dissertation or thesis details and type of degree
M.S.
Discipline of degree
Eberly College of Arts & Sciences
Body granting the degree
West Virginia University
Text preceding or following the note
2014
SUMMARY OR ABSTRACT
Text of Note
Understanding intergroup relations and the anxiety that can result has become increasingly relevant to interactions between Muslim and non-Muslim individuals due to current tensions between Islamic groups and many Western nations (e.g., acts of terrorism in Madrid and London, the U.S. War on Terror). Furthermore, the anticipated increase in migration from the Middle East and North Africa to Western countries will undoubtedly lead to increased contact between Muslim and non-Muslim groups. In order to improve intergroup relations and reduce potential conflict between groups, it is important to understand factors that influence intergroup contact. One such factor is intergroup anxiety, or the discomfort and unease an individual feels when interacting with an unfamiliar out-group member. The goal of this research was to develop a measure that assesses levels of anxiety non-Muslims experience when thinking of interacting with Muslims. Two studies were conducted to assess the reliability and validity of the new measure. In Study 1, an exploratory factor analysis identified 16 items that reliably assessed intergroup anxiety toward Muslims with three subscales (e.g., Future Interactions, Comfort, and Settings). The scale demonstrated good convergent and discriminant validity across the two studies, such that participants who reported higher levels of intergroup anxiety toward Muslims also reported more negative attitudes toward Muslims, were more prejudiced toward Arabs, and experienced more general anxiety, intergroup anxiety, and social anxiety. Also, an independent samples t-test found the Intergroup Anxiety toward Muslims Scale to be reliable across samples and method of data collection. Overall, the measure was found to be a valid and reliable assessment of intergroup anxiety toward Muslims.
TOPICAL NAME USED AS SUBJECT
Social psychology; Ethnic studies
UNCONTROLLED SUBJECT TERMS
Subject Term
Social sciences;Psychology;Anxiety;Intergroup anxiety;Muslims;Out-group attitudes;Scale development