Patterns of Intergroup Contact in Public Spaces: Micro-Ecology of Segregation in Australian Communities
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Rationale and Aims
3. Methods
3.1. Study Setting
3.2. Observation Methods
3.3. Measures
4. Results
4.1. Observations—Quantitative Analysis
Total % (n) | Within group % (n) | Intergroup % (n) | None % (n) | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Setting | ||||
Library A | 13.0 (127) | 25.2 (32) | 11.8 (15) | 63 (80) |
Library B | 21.5 (209) | 49.8 (104) | 13.4 (28) | 36.8 (77) |
Sports | 40.7 (396) | 87.9 (348) | 1 (4) | 11.1 (44) |
Shopping center | 24.9 (242) | 79.3 (192) | 4.6 (11) | 16.1 (39) |
Racial/ethnic background | ||||
Majority | 71.1 (692) | 78.8 (545) | 1.9 (13) | 19.4 (134) |
Visible minority | 29.0. (282) | 46.5 (131) | 16.0 (45) | 37.6 (106) |
Gender | ||||
Male | 43.7 (425) | 64.7 (275) | 6.8 (29) | 28.5 (121) |
Female | 56.3 (548) | 73.2 (401) | 5.3 (29) | 21.5 (118) |
Age group | ||||
Pre-teens | 29.8 (290) | 67.6 (196) | 12.8 (37) | 19.7 (57) |
Youth | 5.7 (55) | 65.5 (36) | 5.5 (3) | 29.1 (16) |
Adults | 64.6 (629) | 70.6 (444) | 2.9 (18) | 26.6 (167) |
Time of day | ||||
Morning | 20.4 (199) | 58.8 (117) | 2 (4) | 39.2 (78) |
Afternoon | 62.6 (610) | 67.7 (413) | 8.2 (50) | 24.1 (147) |
Evening | 16.9 (165) | 88.5 (146) | 2.4 (4) | 9.1 (15) |
Length of contact | ||||
<10 min | 36.8 (272) | 84.2 (229) | 15.8 (43) | NA |
10 min or more | 63.2 (468) | 95.5 (447) | 3.2 (15) | NA |
Total | 69.4 (676) | 6.0 (58) | 24.6 (240) |
Type of contact | Unadjusted RRR | P value | |
---|---|---|---|
Racial/ethnic background | |||
Within group | |||
Visible minority | 0.07 (0.02–0.23) | <0.001 | |
None | |||
Visible minority | 0.23 (0.1–0.54) | 0.001 | |
Time of day | |||
Within group | |||
Morning | 3.54 (0.38–32.78) | 0.27 | |
Evening | 4.42 (1–19.49) | 0.05 | |
None | |||
Morning | 6.63 (3.85–11.42) | <0.001 | |
Evening | 1.28 (0.56–2.93) | 0.57 | |
Gender | |||
Within group | 1.46 (0.77–2.75) | 0.24 | |
None | 0.98 (0.74–1.29) | 0.86 | |
Age group | |||
Within group | |||
Youth | 2.27 (0.93–5.54) | 0.07 | |
Adults | 4.66 (1.38–15.68) | 0.01 | |
None | |||
Youth | 3.46 (1.05–11.40) | 0.04 | |
Adults | 6.02 (0.81–44.76) | 0.08 | |
Unadjusted OR (95% CI) | |||
Length of contact | |||
Type of contact | |||
Within group | 0.18 (0.02–1.46) | 0.11 | |
Racial/ethnic background | |||
Visible minority | 0.30 (0.06–1.63) | 0.17 | |
Contact X length of contact | |||
Racial/ethnic background | |||
Visible minority | 9.23 (2.07–41.03) | 0.003 |
Type of contact | Unadjusted RRR(95% CI) | Adjusted RRR (95% CI) | P value | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Within group | Minority group | 0.07 (0.02–0.22) | 0.10 (0.02–0.57) | 0.01 |
Gender | ||||
Female | - | 0.89 (0.56–1.43) | 0.64 | |
Age group | ||||
Pre-teens/youth | - | 2.12 (1.39–3.24) | 0.001 | |
Adults | - | 2.62 (0.50–23.68) | 0.25 | |
Time of day | ||||
Morning | - | 3.37 (0.91–12.38) | 0.01 | |
Evening | - | 2.73 (1.12–6.68) | 0.03 | |
None | Minority group | 0.23 (0.10–0.54) | 0.40 (0.16–1.02) | 0.05 |
Gender | ||||
Female | - | 0.63 (0.39–1.03) | 0.07 | |
Age group | ||||
Pre-teens/youth | - | 4.24 (2.21–8.14) | <0.001 | |
Adults | - | 5.63 (0.98–32.37) | 0.05 | |
Time of day | ||||
Morning | - | 8.27 (6.22–11.00) | <0.001 | |
Evening | - | 1.13 (0.65–2.00) | 0.67 |
4.2. Observations—Field Notes
Less intergroup contact was observed at the shopping mall where a majority of patrons were of an Anglo background. All interactions observed were between family members or friends with the exception of one intergroup interaction between two members of the cleaning staff and a couple of intergroup interactions in the children’s playground which were perceived as positive.(Observational field notes LGA B 19/5/2011 5:00 p.m.–5:25 p.m.)
…the library was not only being used for browsing, reading, and learning, but also a social space as well…. speaking in languages other than English (Greek, Hindi and local African languages).(Observational field notes LGA B 26/5/2011 11:00 a.m.–12:55 p.m.)
One group of male children use the space to play cards, their interaction is friendly. A group of Middle Eastern Muslim women and their children sit on the floor talking and taking pictures of each other. Perhaps this demonstrates they are feeling safe and comfortable in this particular public space? A number of others used this section to read with family or to play with family and friends.(Observational field notes LGA B 15/5/2011 3:30 p.m.–3:55 p.m.)
On two separate days a group of young group of Afghani males were present…perhaps this is a space they frequent often to socialize and use the game resources. The weekly knitting group comprised individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds who also use this space, and positively interact with each other.(Observational field notes LGA A 17/6/2011 10:30 a.m.–10:45 a.m.)
In the computer area there was one intergroup interaction and slight altercation between an Anglo male and Middle Eastern male whereby the Middle Eastern male stood behind the Anglo male’s computer watching the screen making the Anglo male uncomfortable and leading him to ask the Middle Eastern male to ‘go away’.(Observational field notes LGA A 21/5/2011 3:55 p.m.–4:00 p.m.)
5. Discussions
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Priest, N.; Paradies, Y.; Ferdinand, A.; Rouhani, L.; Kelaher, M. Patterns of Intergroup Contact in Public Spaces: Micro-Ecology of Segregation in Australian Communities. Societies 2014, 4, 30-44. https://doi.org/10.3390/soc4010030
Priest N, Paradies Y, Ferdinand A, Rouhani L, Kelaher M. Patterns of Intergroup Contact in Public Spaces: Micro-Ecology of Segregation in Australian Communities. Societies. 2014; 4(1):30-44. https://doi.org/10.3390/soc4010030
Chicago/Turabian StylePriest, Naomi, Yin Paradies, Angeline Ferdinand, Lobna Rouhani, and Margaret Kelaher. 2014. "Patterns of Intergroup Contact in Public Spaces: Micro-Ecology of Segregation in Australian Communities" Societies 4, no. 1: 30-44. https://doi.org/10.3390/soc4010030