Does it matter where you know them from? Race-ethnicity and the impact of social domain on intergroup contact

Abstract

Previous research generally suggests that increased racial-ethnic intergroup contact can reduce prejudice. Most studies, however, have examined the effects of contact within one social domain, that is, the specific context in which contact occurs. Thus, the question of how the social domain shapes the strength and direction of the contact–prejudice relationship remains underexplored. Utilizing data from a self-administered online survey (N = 637), this exploratory study examines the effects of intergroup contact on neighbor acceptance across different social domains (family, friends, work, social media, school, neighborhood, community), paying particular attention to differences by respondent and hypothetical neighbor race-ethnicity. Findings reveal that not all domains of intergroup contact are significantly associated with neighbor acceptance and that the positive effects of intergroup contact vary by racial-ethnic group. We also find evidence that intergroup contact can reduce neighbor acceptance for same race-ethnic individuals among minority respondents. This study nuances conceptualizations of context in assessing the effectiveness of contact in reducing prejudice.