Social factors influencing immigration attitudes: an analysis of data fromthe General Social Survey

This report partly replicates and also extends previous work exploring soci al factors influencing public opinion concerning immigration policy in the United States. Our findings are that college education and perceived cultur al threats, especially to the English language, have the most impact upon i mmigration views. Other variables having some effect are political ideology , economic outlook, age, and sex. Effects of race, income, and fear of crim e appear to be negligible. The findings are discussed in light of a multifa ctor theory of immigration opinion. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. All righ ts reserved.