Journals

BJSP Call for Papers

Special Issue: Dynamic processes in intergroup contact

Guest editors: Oliver Christ (University of Marburg, Germany), Miles Hewstone (University of Oxford, UK), Linda Tropp (University of Massachusetts; USA), and Ulrich Wagner (University of Marburg, Germany)

Deadline for submissions: 30^th July 2010

Issue Scope

In recent years, interest in intergroup contact has intensified, leading to a number of advances in intergroup contact theory (Pettigrew, 2008). Among those expansions is research on cross-group friendship (e.g, Pettigrew, 1998), extended contact (Wright, Aron, McLaughlin-Volpe, & Ropp, 1997), mediators and moderators of contact effects (e.g., Brown & Hewstone, 2005), and reciprocal effects of intergroup contact involving both group members involved in intergroup interaction (e.g., Shelton & Richeson, 2006; Tropp & Pettigrew, 2005). There has also been debate on the possible limitations of intergroup contact in improving intergroup relations (e.g., Dixon, Durheim, & Tredoux, 2006; Saguy et al., 2009). A recent extensive meta-analysis by Pettigrew and Tropp (2006) has shown the effectiveness of intergroup contact in reducing intergroup attitudes per se. Summarizing a multitude of studies, the authors provide ample evidence that intergroup contact helps to improve attitudes toward different types of often stigmatized groups, including racial and ethnic minorities, homosexuals, the homeless, and the mentally and physical disabled. Thus, intergroup contact theory is one of the key theories in the social sciences for improving intergroup relations.

The contact research literature has, however, traditionally suffered from a scarcity of longitudinal studies (Pettigrew, 1998), although in recent years some longitudinal studies have been published (e.g., Binder et al., 2009; Eller & Abrams, 2003, 2004; van Laar, Levin, Sinclair, & Sidanius, 2005). It is this methodological development, and associated theoretical sophistication, which we wish to highlight in this Special Issue. Longitudinal studies are necessary to get new insights into the complex dynamics involved in intergroup contact effects. Longitudinal studies have the potential to analyse predictors and consequences of change in individual intergroup contact over time. In addition, by using cross-lagged analysis and more sophisticated statistical models (including structural equation modelling, and latent growth-curve modelling), longitudinal analyses offer the opportunity to get a closer insight into the necessarily dynamic nature of intergroup contact, and the causal structure of predictors, mediators, moderators, and consequences of intergroup contact. Thus, longitudinal analyses provide a unique opportunity to further advance both theory and research on intergroup contact.

The aim of the special issue is therefore to bring together longitudinal contact work with a focus on the complex dynamics of intergroup contact effects. We welcome a wide variety of contributions providing insights into dynamic processes by means of any kinds of longitudinal studies, including: "classic" longitudinal studies (e.g., having two or more points of measurement), diary studies, and (quasi-) experimental studies including repeated measures of intergroup contact and intergroup attitudes.

Articles should not be longer than 7,000 words (including footnotes, but excluding the abstract, references, tables and figures). Manuscripts are expected to follow the standard guidelines of the British Journal of Social Psychology (BJSP) and they will be peer-reviewed. Manuscripts, which should be clearly labeled as submissions intended for this Special Issue, must be submitted through BJSP's online review system, Editorial Manager.

For further information about the Special Issue, please contact the Guest Editors:

Oliver Christ: christ@staff.uni-marburg.de

Miles Hewstone: Miles.Hewstone@psy.ox.ac.uk

Linda Tropp: wagner1@staff.uni-marburg.de

Ulrich Wagner: tropp@psych.umass.edu