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Preferred term

contact theory  

Definition

  • Contact theory, sometimes called the contact hypothesis, suggests that contact between members of different groups can improve relations between them if the contact occurs under certain conditions. For more than 50 years, this theory has been important in influencing expectations regarding the social outcomes of schools with diverse student bodies and in suggesting factors likely to influence whether experiences in such schools improve intergroup relations. [Source: Encyclopedia of Diversity in Education; Contact Theory]

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https://concepts.sagepub.com/social-science/concept/contact_theory

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