Refugee Characteristics and Public Attitudes: Evidence from an Image-Based Vignette Experiment

• In Event: International Migration Section Refereed Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): 07. Survey experiments

Abstract

This study examines how perceptions of refugees’ and asylum seekers’ vulnerability, as well as attitudes toward them, vary according to ethnic origin, religion, gender, social class and family composition in Italy. The study involved a pre-registered factorial survey experiment (N = 2,000, 2024/2025) using hypothetical image-based scenarios in which refugees and asylum seekers were depicted with randomized characteristics. These features and related hypotheses are derived from Intergroup Threat Theory. Findings show that female refugees are consistently associated with higher support for integration policies. Further, mixed-gender depictions enhanced asylum support even more, likely due to associations with family composition and stability. The presence of children strongly increases support, particularly for financial benefits. Individuals perceived as belonging to lower social classes also attract greater support. Religion plays a less central role than expected, but significant interactions emerge: Black Muslims receive greater support, while White Muslims experience the strongest penalty. This might reflect entrenched stereotypes linked to North African and Middle Eastern communities. Moreover, Muslim families with children are less favoured than non-Muslim families, and Muslim men face stronger negative bias than Muslim women.

Authors

• Debora Mantovani, University of Bologna

• Loris Vergolini, University of Bologna