Development of the Semi-Implicit Self-Report to assess Attitudes Toward Immigration (SISRATI): Psychometric properties and convergence

David Herrero-Fernández; Carla Álvarez Ferradas; Angel Olider Rojas Vistorte; Esther Setién-Suero; Ana Visiers; Helena Garay; Isabel Diego; Sara Morales-Ortiz; Juan Luis Martín Ayala

Resumen:

Attitudes toward immigration in Spain represent a pressing social concern, particularly in the context of increasing reports of racism and public rejection and concern. However, assessing these attitudes is complicated by social desirability bias inherent in self-report measures. This study aimed to develop and validate a semi-implicit instrument using news headlines—half pro-immigration and half anti-immigration—which participants (N = 616, divided into two sub-samples) judged as true or false. Psychometric properties were evaluated through Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analyses, revealing a two-factor structure comprising 12 items: “Pro-Immigration Statements” and “Anti-Immigration Statements.” Based on these dimensions, participants were clustered into four groups: “Favorable to Immigration,” “Unfavorable to Immigration,” “Non-Discriminant Believers,” and “Non-Discriminant Unbelievers.” These groups were then compared on emotional responses (valence and intensity) to immigration-related content, Big Five personality traits, and reflective cognitive style. Significant differences in emotional responses across groups supported the tool’s convergent validity. The results highlight the utility of semi-implicit measures in capturing nuanced attitudes toward immigration and avoiding the biases of traditional self-report methods. Implications for future research and social intervention are discussed, along with study limitations and potential improvements for the proposed tool.