Cross Community Study Published

The report entitled 'Can Contact Promote Better Relations? Evidence from Mixed and Segregated Areas of Belfast' tracked a number of individuals between 2006 and 2007 to determine if and how cross community contact works.

The key findings to of the research showed that direct contact with a member of the other community resulted in a reduction in prejudice over time and that neighbourhood contact had an impact not only on attitude to the other community, but also towards ethnic minorities in Northern Ireland; positive cross-community contact led to less racial prejudice.

Also, according to the report, when people viewed members of their community involved in cross-community contact, this led to an increase in their own cross-community contact.