A survey of ethnocentrism in australia

Abstract

A sample (n=1066) representative of New South Wales and Victoria, Australia, responded to an attitude questionnaire containing 24 items of “An Australian Ethnocentrism Scale” (Beswick and Hills, 1969). Lower ethnocentrism was strongly correlated with independent effects of education, urbanization and immigration. Increasing acceptance by young people of foreign colour and beliefs is inferred. Reliability and validity of the scale are demonstrated, and norms for an Australian population are supplied. It is suggested that ethnocentrism, while shown by the study to be still a viable theoretical entity, is decreasing in its influence on Australian society.