Factors affecting Canadians' attitudes toward immigration and immigrants: A quantitative study of differences in attitude definitions
Date
2025
Authors
Hu, Jingtong
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Abstract
This study examines the factors shaping Canadians' attitudes toward immigrants and immigration policy in the context of shifting global immigration patterns. This research used data from the Canadian sample of the seventh wave of the World Values Survey. By employing quantitative methods, this study investigates how social demographic characteristics, geographical considerations, religion, social capital, social integration and boundary perception, political ideology, economic competition, and personality traits influence two distinct yet interrelated attitudes. A key finding is that participation in social organizations exerts opposite effects on the acceptance of immigrants and support for immigration policies, highlighting that social capital could have different cognitive pathways for interpersonal openness versus institutional preferences. This study reveals clear cognitive differences between the two attitudes through systematic and empirical analyses, offering more precise insights for immigration studies.
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Keywords
Immigrants, Immigration, Attitudes, Canadian public opinions