Predictors of majority membersʹ acculturation preferences: Experimental evidence

A study was conducted to test experimentally whether majority membersʹ perceptions of which acculturation strategies minority members prefer would causally impact on majority membersʹ own acculturation preferences, especially their preference for integration. Participants (N = 113) were exposed to videos in which actors who posed as Pakistani minority members voiced different acculturation preferences (integration, assimilation, separation or control condition). Their views were presented as representative of their ethnic group. The effect of this on white British majority participantsʹ own acculturation preferences was measured. As expected, perceived acculturation preferences significantly impacted on own acculturation preferences. In line with predictions, participantsʹ level of prejudice significantly moderated these effects.