New measures of political attitudes in Northern Ireland: A social identityperspective

Twenty-eight measures of political attitudes were validated on a sample of 388 undergraduate students from Northern Ireland. Confirmatory factor analy sis showed the scales to be unidimensional, discriminantly valid, with gene rally excellent reliabilities. The pattern of intergroup differentiation be tween Catholics and Protestants conformed to Social Identity Theory, with m aximum differentiation on important issues, Catholics adopting a social cha nge ideology and Protestants defending the status quo. Catholics and Protes tants resolved their respective group associations with violence by condemn ing both it and terrorism, and also reported interdenominational friendship s. The utility of these new measures of political attitudes in terms of mea suring changes due to political initiatives, cross-community reconciliation programmes and in assessing changes in attitudes as a result of integrated or segregated denominational schooling within the Province is outlined. Co pyright (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.