Ageism And The Contact Hypothesis: The Effects Of Work-related And Non Work-related Contact On Age-related Stereotypes

Ageism can be defined as positive or negative attitudes toward a group based solely on their age. The present study examined the effect of the contact hypothesis (Allport, 1958) on ageism. Specifically, work-related and non work-related contact effects on both general ageism and ageism in the workplace were assessed. Study 1 examined the effect of the quantity of contact on ageism, while Study 2 examined the Quality X Quantity interaction of situation-specific contact on ageism. Ageism was measured using the previously developed Comprehensive Scale of Ageism (Tipton, 2005), while ageism in the workplace was measured by Ringenbach's (1994) Age Stereotypes in the Workplace Scale. Study 1 revealed null results, while Study 2 revealed that the quality of interactions is important in reducing age-related stereotypes. Future directions, limitations, and implications are discussed.