have mostly utilized surveys to capture the impact of intergroup contact on Mexicans’ and Americans’ opinions of each other (Stephan et al., 2000; Eller & Abrams, 2003; Stephan & Stephan, 2000). Personal contact such as friendships between Mexicans and Americans has been shown to increase the positive attitudes of the outgroup country (Stephan & Stephan, 2000; Stephan et al., 2000; Eller & Abrams, 2004; Ellison et al., 2001), but the quantity of interactions and non-personal forms of contact have shown little to no effect creating positive evaluations of the other country (Eller & Abrams, 2004; Stephan et al., 2000). This research goes in line with previous research done on other intergroup relations stating that sheer frequency of contact between groups is not enough to reduce prejudice (Wilner et al., 1955). The studies between Mexico and the United States are quite congruent and consistent in their findings, but there is still further room for research which this study will attempt. Few studies have been conducted solely focus on the causes of Mexicans’ opinions of Americans, and many discuss this topic from the viewpoint of Americans’ opinions of Mexicans. Of the few studies which focus on Mexicans’ opinions, most studies utilize convenience samples with small numbers of participants. Although these studies can be generalized towards the entire nation of Mexico, nationwide survey data studies should be conducted to support these convenience sample studies’ potential problems with locality and small numbers of participants. Also, studies have been too quick to dismiss the potential of other non-personal forms of contact that impact public opinion of other countries. To fill in these gaps in the literature, this study will use a nationwide sample to bolster previous studies’ results, and it will attempt to show how personal contact and general cultural contact positively and significantly affect favorability towards Americans.
have mostly utilized surveys to capture the impact of intergroup contact on Mexicans’ and Americans’ opinions of each other (Stephan et al., 2000; Eller & Abrams, 2003; Stephan & Stephan, 2000). Personal contact such as friendships between Mexicans and Americans has been shown to increase the positive attitudes of the outgroup country (Stephan & Stephan, 2000; Stephan et al., 2000; Eller & Abrams, 2004; Ellison et al., 2001), but the quantity of interactions and non-personal forms of contact have shown little to no effect creating positive evaluations of the other country (Eller & Abrams, 2004; Stephan et al., 2000). This research goes in line with previous research done on other intergroup relations stating that sheer frequency of contact between groups is not enough to reduce prejudice (Wilner et al., 1955). The studies between Mexico and the United States are quite congruent and consistent in their findings, but there is still further room for research which this study will attempt. Few studies have been conducted solely focus on the causes of Mexicans’ opinions of Americans, and many discuss this topic from the viewpoint of Americans’ opinions of Mexicans. Of the few studies which focus on Mexicans’ opinions, most studies utilize convenience samples with small numbers of participants. Although these studies can be generalized towards the entire nation of Mexico, nationwide survey data studies should be conducted to support these convenience sample studies’ potential problems with locality and small numbers of participants. Also, studies have been too quick to dismiss the potential of other non-personal forms of contact that impact public opinion of other countries. To fill in these gaps in the literature, this study will use a nationwide sample to bolster previous studies’ results, and it will attempt to show how personal contact and general cultural contact positively and significantly affect favorability towards Americans.