Italian Adaptation of the Revised Multicultural Ideology Scale (MCI‐r)

TL;DR

This paper adapts a scale to measure multicultural ideology in Italy and confirms its effectiveness in predicting positive interactions with migrants.

Contribution

The paper provides a validated Italian adaptation of the MCI-r scale for assessing multicultural ideology.

Findings

The MCI-r scale showed a four-factor solution and a higher-order dimension in the Italian context.

The scale demonstrated predictive validity for positive contact with migrants and political orientation.

Abstract

The rise of migrants from different cultural backgrounds in Italy highlights the need to promote harmonious coexistence between them and the local population. A key factor in addressing this challenge is the level of acceptance in society of a multicultural ideology. An instrument to measure this concept has recently been revised into the Revised Multicultural Ideology Scale (MCI‐r). Despite the urgency of adopting this broader ideology in Italy, no adaptation of the current scale has been made in the Italian context. To bridge this gap, our studies aim to adapt the MCI‐r scale to the Italian context and assess its predictive validity on variables crucial for positive intergroup relations. We collected data from two distinct samples: one from Prolific (N = 301) and another from Sapienza University (N = 204). Using confirmatory factor analysis, measurement invariance, and convergent and discriminant validity analyses, we investigated the psychometric properties of the scale based on its recent validations in other societies. Furthermore, we tested its predictive validity concerning the quality of contact with migrants and political orientation. Our findings supported a four‐factor solution and a higher‐order dimension. Additionally, results supported the predictive validity of MCI‐r and the superordinate dimension on positive contact with migrants and political orientations.