Testing the multicomponent model of intergroup attitudes and accompanied open-ended measures

According to the multicomponent model of intergroup attitudes our attitudes towards groups are based on emotions toward group members, beliefs about s pecific characteristics of members of the social group and beliefs about wh ich values are promoted or blocked by the group members. The first aim of t his study was to check the validity and reliability of the open-ended measu res for assessing components of attitudes towards groups, and the second ai m was to test the multicomponent model of intergroup attitudes. The study e xamined attitudes toward two groups as attitude objects. General attitude w as assessed by semantic differential scales. On the bases of data analysis with regard to the content and favorability of subjects' (N = 119) free-res ponses it was concluded that open-ended measures are valid indicators of at titudinal components. The split-half reliability of open ended measures are satisfactory although lower than mean reliability indices found in literat ure, A multiple regression analysis revealed that stereotypes provided a si gnificant contribution to the prediction of attitude towards both groups. A ffective responses were a significant unique predictor for attitude towards only one group whereas symbolic beliefs in both cases were not predictive of the general attitude. The results do not support the importance of symbo lic beliefs as a part of the cognitive basis of attitudes, which is the mai n new part of the multicomponent model of intergroup attitudes with regard to the general multicomponent model of attitudes.