Conferences

In the paper to be presented a vignette based online-study and a hitherto unfinished qualitative follow-up study to analyze the phenomenon of “group-focused enmity” is discussed. The core idea of group-focused enmity is that different types of prejudice (e.g. xenophobia, islamophobia, anti-semitism, sexism, homophobia) are interrelated and constitute a syndrome.

In both studies the very same vignettes are employed, yet with different research aims: The online-study focuses on testing the assumed relationship of a general value orientation towards adjustment with the phenomenon of group-focused enmity. In the qualitative vignette study the same vignettes are, then, employed in problem-centered interviews with semi-structured questions to interpret the previous data by eliciting the argumentative patterns and subjective theories of the respondents.

In the vignettes employed in both studies a protagonist is involved in a conflict between his/her own need for self-realization and the demands to adjust him-/herself. The story is interrupted and the respondents are asked to rate the sympathy of the protagonist and to give an advice how to behave. Then, the story goes on and the respondent is informed about the protagonist’s decision and its consequences. The following factors are systematically varied: the protagonist’s affiliation to a majority or minority group, his or her decision for or against adjustment and the consequences of the decision (positive/negative).

The advantages of such a quantitative-qualitative approach will be shown. Furthermore, the benefits of the vignette approach to analyze sensitive concepts in a less personal and, therefore, less threatening way is discussed.