仮想接触法が国イメージ・国民イメージの態度変容に及ぼす因果関係の検討——日本人と韓国人の相互的データを用いて——

抄録

This study aimed to conduct a questionnaire experiment using the scenario method to determine if the nature of the imagined contact scene changes the image of a particular group. Specifically, we examined whether Japanese attitudes toward Korea/Koreans and Korean attitudes toward Japan/Japanese change depending on the imagined contact scene (positive/negative). In November 2018, we commissioned a research firm to conduct a questionnaire survey among 432 Japanese and 439 Koreans. The results of the two-factor analysis showed that imagined contact improved attitudes toward the other country/other nations and that positive imagined contact was more effective than negative imagined contact. On the other hand, negative contact had almost no negative effect on country/national image. Based on the above, the following three points can be made. First, this study confirms that the results of imagined contact verified in Western countries are also effective in East Asia, namely Japan and Korea. Second, this study suggests that the change in attitude caused by negative contact is limited and could be used effectively in intercultural training. Third, imagined contact stimulates “the intention to interact with a specific nation,” it is expected to improve the image of a specific country/nation.