Comparative Analyses of Public Attitudes Toward Immigrants and Immigration Using Multinational Survey Data: A Review of Theories and Research
Abstract
This article critically reviews the intersectional locus of public opinion scholarship and immigration studies that make use of data from multinational survey projects. Specifically, it emphasizes current cross-national research seeking to understand the causes, manifestations, and implications of attitudes toward immigrants and immigration in economically advanced countries of the world. Despite rapid expansion, the field suffers from several methodological challenges and theoretical constraints. A succinct exposure of trends and patterns is followed by presentations of influential theoretical perspectives and established individual- and contextual-level determinants. The review suggests that strengthening the conceptual apparatus and enlarging the analytical focus are priorities. It concludes with some observations on how to circumvent these problems and to bridge current research with future explorations of the embedded nature of such public attitudes.
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How the term immigrants is interpreted may vary widely among countries based on historical context, discourses and policies surrounding immigration, and the types of immigrants most likely to be entering the country.
“how the term “immigrants” is being interpreted may vary widely among countries based on historical context, discourses and policies surrounding immigration, and the types of immigrants most likely to be entering the country (Braun et al. 2013, Ceobanu & Escandell 2010).”
From Prejudice and Discrimination Toward Immigrants (2021) · cites this paper as Ceobanu & Escandell 2010
Perceived demographic threat from immigrants is related to the perceived size of the immigrant population, with some evidence that large groups of arriving immigrants, particularly when more culturally distinct, are perceived as threatening.
“Perceived demographic threat from immigrants is related to the perceived size of the immigrant population, with some evidence that large groups of arriving immigrants, particularly when they are more culturally distinct from the receiving society, are perceived as threatening (Ceobanu & Escandell 2010).”
From Prejudice and Discrimination Toward Immigrants (2021) · cites this paper as Ceobanu & Escandell 2010
Attitudes toward immigrants and attitudes toward immigration are highly correlated.
“One basis for this claim is that attitudes toward immigrants and attitudes toward immigration are highly correlated (Ceobanu & Escandell 2010, Esses et al. 2019)”
From Prejudice and Discrimination Toward Immigrants (2021) · cites this paper as Ceobanu & Escandell 2010
Cites
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Economic insecurity, prejudicial stereotypes, and public opinion on immigration policy
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The Effect of Education on Nationalism and Ethnic Exclusionism: An International Comparison
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Who Gets a Swiss Passport? A Natural Experiment in Immigrant Discrimination
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Does Immigration Undermine Public Support for Social Policy?
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- Authors
- Ceobanu, A. M., & Escandell, X.
- Affiliations
- University of Florida (US)
- University of Northern Iowa (US)
- Venue
- Annual Review of Sociology
- Publisher
- Annual Reviews
- Published
- 2010-06-01
- Volume
- 36
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 309-328
- ISSN
- 0360-0572 (ISSN-L)
- 1545-2115
- OpenAlex
- W2116085436
- Cited by
- 823
- References
- 4
- Citations by year
- 2026: 35 · 2025: 42 · 2024: 57 · 2023: 48 · 2022: 75 · 2021: 81 · 2020: 95 · 2019: 89 · 2018: 58 · 2017: 42 · 2016: 49 · 2015: 44 · 2014: 34 · 2013: 39 · 2012: 20
- FWCI
- 13.71
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Annual Review of Sociology (publishedVersion)
- UNI ScholarWorks (University of Northern Iowa) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Migration, Refugees, and Integration
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Migration and Labor Dynamics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Social and Intergroup Psychology
- Keywords
- public attitudes toward immigrants, immigration attitudes, public opinion, intersectionality, cross-national comparison, determinants of attitudes, theoretical approaches, contextual factors, individual determinants
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