Examining attitudes on migrants: a dual-method approach based on Item Response Theory and Structural Topic Modelling

This study investigates attitudes towards migrants by analysing responses collected through three measurement instruments: an ad hoc Stereotyped Beliefs about Immigrants Scale (SBIS), the Osgood semantic differential and the Bogardus social distance scale. Item Response Theory (IRT) models are applied to the structured instruments, while Structural Topic Modelling (STM) is used to analyse open-ended responses. This dual-method approach integrates quantitative and qualitative data, offering a comprehensive examination of prejudice towards marginalised groups across both structured scales and spontaneous narratives. IRT is employed to identify and compare latent traits underlying attitudes across the three instruments, providing insight into the strength and coherence of these beliefs. Additionally, STM is used to uncover dominant topics in open-ended responses and assess their association with varying levels of prejudicial disposition. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the multidimensional nature of attitudes towards migrants, with implications for addressing bias and prejudice in public discourse.