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The intergroup contact hypothesis states that interactions between individuals belonging to different groups will influence the attitudes & behavior between members of these different groups. The two dominant measures of intergroup contact are context (ie, size of a minority group within a specified geographic area) & individual behavior (ie, personal contact between members of the majority & minority groups). The contextual & behavioral measures of contact produce divergent findings. The contextual contact literature finds that whites residing in areas with high concentrations of minority populations have significantly more negative attitudes toward minorities & minority-based public policies than whites residing in areas with low concentrations of minority populations. The behavioral contact literature finds that intergroup contacting among majority & minority populations significantly reduces prejudicial attitudes & opinions about minorities & minority-based policies. In this article, we examine both contextual & behavioral measures of the contact hypothesis as they influence white attitudes toward immigrant populations (ie, Hispanics) & white policy positions toward immigration policies. We offer & test an explanation for the literature's divergent findings. 2 Tables, 1 Figure, 46 References. Adapted from the source document.

To explain which politicians make it into the news, this study considers the influence of the personal interactions between political journalists and politicians. While theoretically plausible, there is little empirical evidence that the personal interactions between reporters and politicians are associated with news content. This study draws on a survey of political journalists combined with a content analysis of their newspaper articles to analyze how personal interactions with politicians and the background characteristics of journalists relate to their news-making. Overall, it is found that journalists report more often and more positively about politicians they have personal contact with and about those politicians who hold similar political views. Hence, personal interactions with journalists can be useful for politicians to attract (positive) media coverage.

AbstractThe COVID‐19 pandemic and its restrictions have led to a shift in how people connect with others. This study investigated (a) profiles of social contact change across social ties and modes of contact, (b) predictors of these profiles, and (c) the association between these profiles and mental health during the pandemic. Participants (N = 2,098; Age mean = 50.94, range = 18–98; 48.3% female) were surveyed online twice, once prior to the pandemic (January 31–February 10, 2020) and again early in the outbreak (March 18–29, 2020). A latent profile analysis identified profiles of social contact change across social ties and communication methods. Additional analyses identified predictors of group membership and their association with mental health. Three latent groups were identified: (1) the "majority group" (77%) slightly restricted in‐person contact and had a small increase in phone and text use, (2) the "high technology use group" (13%) restricted in‐person contact and increased the use of all technology‐based methods, and (3) the "isolated group" (10%) decreased in both in‐person and technology‐based contact. Compared to the majority group, the high technology use group reported higher depression and anxiety, whereas the isolated group reported higher loneliness. There were three distinct profiles of how adults in the United States changed their communication patterns with others early in the pandemic that were linked to distinct patterns of mental health. The results have implications for the development and the delivery of mental health treatment in times of social (physical) distancing.

AbstractThis study investigates the association between the perceived impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on skipped generation familial connections and subjective well‐being among grandchildren and grandparents across the United States. Guided by Walsh's family resilience model, this convergent mixed methods study drew on the survey responses of unrelated adolescent and young adult grandchildren (n = 66) and grandparents (n = 40). Correlational analyses revealed a significant association between perceived impact of COVID‐19 on one's skipped generation family relationships and subjective well‐being for grandchildren but not grandparents. The qualitative results demonstrate both a breakdown and build‐up of processes essential for family resilience: communication, organization, and belief systems. Together, these findings demonstrate the effects of COVID‐19 on skipped generation family relationships are complex, with ties between family members in younger and older generations being simultaneously strengthened and eroded. This study builds on our understanding of intergenerational familial contact when physical separation is present, allowing for more informed decisions as the effects of COVID‐19 on individuals, family systems, and relationships between family members—as well as geographic separation between generations more broadly—continue to evolve.

This study examines whether negative contact with immigrants promotes voting for radical right‐wing parties, to what extent this relationship can be explained by feelings of outgroup threat, and whether this relationship depends on perceived personal and collective self‐efficacy. Hypotheses were tested among 630 native Dutch respondents, mainly living in multicultural neighborhoods. The results show that negative contact with immigrants is associated with feelings of personal (egocentric) and group (sociotropic) threat, and both these feelings, in turn, are associated with radical right‐wing voting. However, negative intergroup contact is less strongly related to egocentric threat when individuals feel able to personally address negative situations with other people (personal self‐efficacy). Furthermore, the findings suggest that negative intergroup contact is less strongly related to sociotropic threat when individuals believe that people in their neighborhood are able to collectively address some negative situations (collective self‐efficacy).

During Oct & Nov 1982, 1,260 Medicare-eligible senior citizens were interviewed in a survey focusing on health care of the elderly. An experiment was conducted in each of the 3 survey sites (Marshfield, Wisc; Worcester, Mass; Minneapolis, Minn) to determine the effects of an advance telephone call to schedule an appointment for a personal interview. At each site, 50% of the sample were sent a lead letter, followed by a telephone call to schedule a personal interview. The other 50% were sent a lead letter followed by personal contact, with no intervening telephone call. Telephoning to arrange an appointment for a personal interview resulted in a 20% saving in data collection costs, with only a 1% decrease in response rate. 3 Tables, 4 References. Modified AA.

A report of the outcome of a randomized experiment, sponsored by the Food & Drug Administration in 1977, which compared mail & personal administration of a twelve-page questionnaire dealing with physician antibiotic prescription practices. Respondents were two equivalent groups of physicians practicing in Washington, DC & median. To overcome the barrier created by the lack of clearly defined & accepted definitions of survey outcomes, six concepts are introduced for the description & comparison of survey outcomes: (1) initial sample, (2) effective sample, (3) gross response rate, (4) gross completion rate, (5) final sample, & (6) final completion rate. Overall, mail surveys appear to require less time, be less costly & generate higher response rates than equivalent personal contacts. Methods such as filter techniques & persistent follow-ups are advised to assure maximum benefit from the mail technique. 2 Tables. Modified AA.