A Boolean approach to the measurement of group processes and attitudes - The concept of integration as an example

Most social research involves comparison of some sort. Numerous tests are d eveloped to examine if a person A is, for example, more intelligent or more creative or more stressed than a person B. Nevertheless, researchers not o nly compare cases but also want to make some statements on the group level. This article focuses on this type of problem. As an example, the process o f cultural integration is discussed. My aim is to compare the evolution of the integration process between different Islamic minorities confronted wit h a Western value system. Starting from a set of individual response patter ns, indicating the presence or absence of a set of attitudes referring to t his aspect, a Boolean approach to analyse and compare group behaviour is de veloped. First, a formal approach of the process of integration is presente d. Afterwards, the methodological tool is described. Finally, an example il lustrates some possibilities of the Boolean approach. (C) 1999 Elsevier Sci ence B.V. All rights reserved.