Examining the Effectiveness of Social Mixing Activities in Promoting Social Cohesion

Overview

A mixed-method study to examine the effectiveness of social mixing activities in promoting social cohesion between the long-term and new residents in West Lothian, Scotland.

The key to creating a cohesive society lies in meaningful engagements. When individuals from different backgrounds engage meaningfully under the right conditions, trust develops, a sense of belonging is formed, and discriminatory attitudes are reduced. "Right conditions" refer to those in which groups have equal status and actively work together towards a common goal with full cooperation. This research builds upon my previous case study (Rahman, 2022), which showed that some ethnic groups find engaging with other community members challenging due to a lack of cultural exchange and misconceptions about each other in West Lothian, Scotland. Therefore, the current research aims to examine the effectiveness of social mixing activities in promoting better social cohesion between long-term and new residents in the same context.

The research will employ the guidelines outlined by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to facilitate and measure the effectiveness of social mixing activities. The IOM (2021 and 2022) has developed toolkits to help project managers plan and facilitate activities that promote meaningful interaction between migrants and non-migrants. Some of these activities, such as digital social mixing interventions in Peru, sports activities in the UK, kitchens on the run in Germany, and cooking together in Turkey, have been found to be effective in fostering meaningful contact.

Police Scotland have co-funded this research programme and are supporting the process alongside other stakeholders in West Lothian. 

Aims and Objectives

In my current research, I will subscribe to a participatory worldview, which entails taking action to bring about positive change in people's lives and investigating certain realities within their living and working environments. This approach seems suitable as it will help identify ways to create social change by promoting better social cohesion, which could ultimately reduce cultural mistrust, discrimination, and racism.

Considering the above, this research aims to examine the effectiveness of social mixing activities in promoting meaningful interactions between long-term and new residents in West Lothian, Scotland. This can illuminate and inform the broader question around intergroup contact theory and social cohesion more generally, and the findings can be considered a valuable guideline for further exploration of these topics. The following primary and sub-research questions will guide this study:

Objectives

• To explore the public perception of community cohesion, identify local initiatives for creating social cohesion.
• To adopt social mixing activities based on IOM guidelines in the locality of West Lothian.
• To understand to what extent meaningful social cohesion reduces hostile and anti-migrant attitudes.

I am planning to use a mixed-methods approach to conduct this research project in three phases.

Phase one

I will hold three focus group discussions with partner organisations, long-term residents, and new residents. The objective of these focus groups is to gather participants' perspectives on the factors that hinder or promote meaningful interaction with other community members. These discussions will help me identify measures that can be taken to facilitate such interaction. Based on these findings, I will organise social mixing activities in the West Lothian area, following the guidelines set by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in 2021 and 2022.

Phase two

I will form a study group and conduct a pre-test survey to evaluate the current level of participation in social mixing activities and the general perception and feeling of each group towards each other. After that, I will implement social mixing activities as an intervention in this study group. Once the activities are completed, I will conduct a post-test survey to determine whether these social mixing activities have increased meaningful interaction and fostered better social cohesion between the two target groups in West Lothian.

Phase three

I will carry out semi-structured interviews with a selected group of participants. The main aim of these interviews is to gain further insight into how social mixing activities can contribute to positive perceptions, meaningful relationships, and better social cohesion between long-term and new residents in West Lothian.

Possible contribution

This research aims to make a valuable contribution to less ethnically diverse areas, such as West Lothian, by enhancing the understanding of community relationships between long-term and new residents. It will evaluate how social mixing activities can create opportunities for people from different backgrounds to interact positively.

Furthermore, this research will provide insight into factors such as self-segregation, cultural inclinations, and prejudices within ethnic groups that influence their motivation to interact and form relationships with other community members in West Lothian.

Finally, social mixing activities are expected to facilitate meaningful interactions and contribute to a shift from hostile attitudes to mutual respect rather than mere tolerance. By reducing hostile attitudes and hate crimes, there can be a decrease in costs for service providers, such as police and local authorities. The results of this research can offer insights and practical interventions for service providers and national policymakers, enabling them to foster meaningful engagement among different community groups. This can contribute to creating a more united society by reducing racial discrimination and structural inequalities, thereby making the public feel informed and empowered.

More outputs and learnings from the project will be shared on this page. 

Find out more

Md Rezaur Rahman
(PhD Student)

Email: mdrrahman@qmu.ac.uk

The Institute for Global Health and Development,

Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh.