Let's stay close: An examination of the effects of imagined contact on behavior toward children with disability

In line with current developments in indirect intergroup contact literature, we conducted a field study using the imagined contact paradigm among high-status (Italian children) and low-status (children with foreign origins) group members (N = 122; 53 females, mean age = 7.52 years). The experiment aimed to improve attitudes and behavior toward a different low-status group, children with disability. To assess behavior, we focused on an objective measure that captures the physical distance between participants and a child with disability over the course of a five-minute interaction (i.e., while playing together). Results from a 3-week intervention revealed that in the case of high-status children imagined contact, relative to a no-intervention control condition, improved outgroup attitudes and behavior, and strengthened helping and contact intentions. These effects however did not emerge among low-status children. The results are discussed in the context of intergroup contact literature, with emphasis on the implications of imagined contact for educational settings.     

Local Labour Markets Identification: a United Point of View*

Abstract. In this paper a unifying point of view is discussed of the methodologies and algorithms actually proposed for the identification of local labour market. The emphasis is on the main contributions to two broad methodological areas of functional regionalization and homogeneous spatial clustering. Most Italian contributions are considered in detail and some critical notes are pointed out in order to show that the methodological background is just the same for both approaches. The interpretations of the outputs of the proposed methodologies is discussed in terms of local labour markets.     

Gender balance in the workforce and abortion attitudes: A cross-national time-series analysis

This article explores the relationship between gender balance in the workforce and attitudes towards abortion worldwide. Studies on macro-level conditions related to abortion attitudes overlook the role of gender balance in the workforce—specifically the degree of female representation in a country's workforce. There are strong reasons why this factor could shape abortion attitudes. We argue that such a gender balance creates necessary conditions to break with traditional, anti-abortion ideology and facilitates dissemination and public acceptance of pro-choice views. We test this argument with two different datasets - the Integrated Values Survey and three waves of the International Social Survey Programme—along with two outcomes: general tolerance towards abortion and tolerance towards abortion for pregnant women of low income. Using three-level random intercept models and multiple controls for individual and country-level conditions, the results support our hypothesis: In countries with higher gender balance in the workforce, individuals display higher tolerance towards abortion.     

Modeling random and non-random decision uncertainty in ratings data: a fuzzy beta model

AStA Advances in Statistical Analysis - Modeling human ratings data subject to raters’ decision uncertainty is an attractive problem in applied statistics. In view of the complex interplay...