Interethnic bridging social capital and the significance of ethnocentric interethnic interaction within Malaysian universities

Somayeh Mortazavi Ganji Ketab; Ezhar Bin Tamam; Jusang  Bolong; Saeed Pahlevan Sharif

doi:10.36923/jicc.v16i3.726

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Somayeh Mortazavi Ganji Ketab ⁽¹⁾ , Ezhar Bin Tamam ⁽²⁾ , Jusang Bolong ⁽³⁾ , Saeed Pahlevan Sharif ⁽⁴⁾

1. Department of Communication, Faculty of Modern Languages and Communication, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Selangor, Malaysia

2. Department of Communication, Faculty of Modern Languages and Communication, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Selangor, Malaysia

3. Department of Communication, Faculty of Modern Languages and Communication, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Selangor, Malaysia

4. Business School, Taylor’s University, Subang Jaya, 47500, Malaysia

https://doi.org/10.36923/jicc.v16i3.726

Issue
Vol. 16 No. 3 (2016)

Submitted
2014 November 21

Published
2016 November 10

Keywords:

ethnocentrism, interethnic interaction, interethnic bridging social capital, Malaysia

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Abstract

This article explores the possible theoretical relationships of ethnocentrism (independent variable) and interethnic interaction (mediating variable) with interethnic bridging social capital (IBSC) (dependent variable). Interethnic bridging social capital is extremely noticeable that there is a lack of such investigation in specifically Malaysian public universities. In an attempt to clarify the current situation, a survey questionnaire was conducted with 343 undergraduate students from the three main ethnic groups. The findings reveal that not only ethnocentrism can effect directly and negatively on IBSC, but also its impact can be partially mediated through interethnic interaction as well. Overall, this article contributes to our understanding of how negative attitudes towards outsiders inhibit trust, reciprocity and cooperation in heterogeneous communities.

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Authors

Somayeh Mortazavi Ganji Ketab

samya.mortazavi@gmail.com (Primary Contact)

Ezhar Bin Tamam

Jusang Bolong

Saeed Pahlevan Sharif

Author Biographies

Somayeh Mortazavi Ganji Ketab

Somayeh Mortazavi Ganji Ketab has studied her PhD in Mass Communication at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). She holds an MA in Communication Technology and a BA in Journalism. Her main research interests include new technologies, social media studies and social impact of new media. Also she has been a translator and TV reporter for less than a decade.

Ezhar Bin Tamam

Ezhar Bin Tamam is a professor of Communication studies at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). His research interests are intercultural communication, youth development, and development communication.

Jusang Bolong

Jusang Bin Bolong is an associate professor of Communication studies at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). His research area is human communication, computer mediated communication, and development communication.

Saeed Pahlevan Sharif

Saeed Pahlevan Sharif is a Finance lecturer at Taylor’s University. His main research covers corporate governance, social media and cultural studies.

Ketab, S. M. G., Tamam, E. B., Bolong, J., & Sharif, S. P. (2016). Interethnic bridging social capital and the significance of ethnocentric interethnic interaction within Malaysian universities. Journal of Intercultural Communication, 16(3), 1-17. https://doi.org/10.36923/jicc.v16i3.726

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