چكيده لاتين :
Introduction
Due to its climate conditions and strategic location, Iran has been a path for crossing different ethnic groups and tribes as well as a place of interaction among different cultures with diverse ethnic backgrounds during history. Ethnicity shows the way of belonging to a group and includes knowledge of historical roots and common traditions. In Iran, ethnic diversity and heterogeneity has sometimes reduced social integrity, particularly in the era of nation-state and nationalism. On the other hand, Iranian national character has provided a possibility for migratory and invasive cultures to merge with each other and be adjusted to new circumstances, appropriate to Iranian culture. May it is because of this reason that we can see different ethnic groups with specific behaviors, morality, beliefs and ideologies common within that group, coexisting in the cultural system and social structure of Iran. Considering the fact that ethnic judgments stem from attitudes towards these groups, studying and investigating them can help knowing cognitive biases people have with regard to ethnicity. After all, our aim is to eliminate stereotypical thoughts based on ethnic discrimination so we can also move towards the elimination of barriers on the path of fair distribution of national wealth and facilities. One of the important elements of realizing national development and reinforcement of social coordination is the existence of a space in which different ethnic groups can have respectful interactions with one another, in spite of differences among them. Accordingly, research subjects in this study include students living in dormitories of the University of Isfahan because the ethnic diversity in these dormitories is rich. Thus it would be possible to find students belonging to different ethnic groups from across the country. To sum up, the main purpose of this study is to investigate the stereotypical thoughts and attitudes of university students related to different Iranian ethnic groups with a qualitative approach.
Materials & Methods
The present study is conducted in a hermeneutic / interpretative research paradigm, using a qualitative methodology. The method of data collection is semi-structured interviews using an interview guide, i.e. a list of questions which are followed in a particular sequence, but in case of raising attractive and suitable points during interviews, the interviewer has freedom to ask unpredicted further questions. The method of sampling is purposive sampling with maximum diversity and heterogeneity. In this strategy, the researcher starts by identifying individuals who have information related to the research topic and are called the informed, and then similar individuals are selected purposively in such a way that all individuals enter the research in a sequence or in terms of one or several dimensions. One of the reasons of using this method is that nobody can claim that the researcher has not considered particular types of cases. The process of sampling in qualitative research usually continues as far as new interviews cannot add to previous information and the researcher observes repetitive patterns of data. In addition, data analysis is based on thematic analysis in which coding process continues in three stages of open, axial, and selective coding. In the present study, ethnic diversity includes 6 groups (Lor, Fars, Tork, Arab, and Baloch). The process of sampling continued up to 30 cases and then, the researchers observed theoretical data saturation.
Discussion of Results and Conclusions
In spite of the ethnic diversity of Iran, the people of this land have represented a kind of national integrity and collective idea. Along this national integrity, which is one of the most important factors of survival in each crisis, Iranian national identity has evolved. Yet, there are some specific differences among different ethnic groups. The results of the study show that ethnic autonomy, attitudinal ambivalence, and stereotypical thoughts may lead to a kind of ethnic exclusiveness whose result is the emphasis of each of different ethnic groups on their own particular characteristics and defining an integrated ethnic identity with emphasis on inter-ethnic priority while representing some cliché and stereotypical thoughts about other ethnic groups. On the other hand, showing respect towards other ethnic groups, the existence of several types of ethnic integrity and interethnic relations, and considering ethnic jokes obscene or morally wrong, are a second category of codes, leading us to think of a kind of ethnic diversity. Therefore, it is possible to talk of ethnic exclusiveness and ethnic diversity at the same time among subjects interviewed in this study. We suggest that for eliminating the barriers of ethnic discrimination and injustice, and creating a justice-oriented society in which each ethnic group can utilize national facilities and actualize its own potentiality, in addition to cherish and respect unique ethnic features, we should educate people about the benefits of ethnic diversity and pluralism from as early as within the families and during school years. After all, these are the institutions in which socialization takes place. Certainly, these fateful childhood years shape oneʹs identity. Children should be taught a kind of attitude that says all people in this society belong to a single nation as a whole. In addition, the critical task of the government is to create an appropriate ground and fair access to national resources for full participation of everybody so that no member of ethnic groups feel deprived of national resources and no flaw hit the sense of national identity.
Keywords: Ethnicity, Stereotypical Thought, Attitude, Thematic Analysis
