Experimental Studies of Attitudes towards Globalization

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K13443
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 06020:International relations-related
• Research Institution: Musashi University (2021); Doshisha University (2020)
• Principal Investigator: Hearn Edward 武蔵大学, 公私立大学の部局等, 准教授 (70780047)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: Foreign Policy / Immigration / Globalization / Public opinion / Japanese Politics / Experimental methods

Outline of Final Research Achievements

During the current year a nationally representative survey with embedded experiments was fielded. The survey experiments were designed to examine the impact of the increase in foreign workers in Japan on attitudes toward globalization and immigration as well as to examine the types of interaction the Japanese public prefers to have with foreign populations. The results of the surveys provided support for a number of hypothesis. First, it was found that exposure to non-assimilated foreigners leads to a reduction in support for globalization among the elderly and general attitudes toward disgust drive attitudes toward immigration. Furthermore, it was found that the Japanese public prefers to have contact with foreign workers but also prefer high levels of cultural assimilation. I am currently completing 3 manuscripts based on the survey experiment results that will be submitted for peer review in an international journal.

Free Research Field

International relations

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

Immigration policy is only sustainable if supported by the public. The objective of this project is to better understand attitudes toward immigration, the social impact of increased foreign contact, and to examine the types of interaction the Japanese public prefers to have with foreign populations.