In recent years there has been much contested debate around the psychology of prejudice and the extent to which it is essentially an outcome of a variety of personality-related variables or whether the social context with which one identifies plays an equally, if not more, important role. Debate has also focused on the complex interplay of personality and social context. This study, using a combination of survey and experimental methodology, examined the extent to which antigay prejudice among men is predicted by right-wing authoritarianism, social-dominance orientation, and identity as a heterosexual. In phase 1 (N = 112) antigay stereotypes were found to be significantly related to right-wing authoritarianism and social dominance orientation, but nevertheless best predicted by right-wing authoritarianism (β = .27, p < .01) and in phase 2 (N = 52), despite males' sexual identity being primed, heterosexual identity was still not significantly related to measures of prejudice. These results are discussed with reference to the nature of authoritarianism and social-dominance orientation, as well as social-identity theory.

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We examined the value correlates of different social identities among two groups of South Africans, those identifying themselves as white Afrikaners or as black South Africans. Respondents indicated the importance of their membership of different groups and also completed indices of National strength and order, and International harmony and equality. Multiple regression analyses showed that the social identities associated with both values for self‐identified Afrikaners were mainly linked with ethnic language (Afrikaans) and religion. Among self‐identified black South Africans, however, the social identities were more encompassing, including the notion of global citizen and South African. The findings are discussed in the light of ongoing political and social change in South Africa and the nature of changing identities, as well as the role of cultural symbols in facilitating in‐group identification among white Afrikaners.

Issues of group identity and prejudice have played a large role in the history of South Africa. In this study the authors examined differences among Xhosa-speaking black, so-called coloured, English-speaking white, and Afrikaansspeaking white adolescents within a context of social change. Data was collected from 818 high school students using a questionnaire that assessed aspects of these groups' perceptions of themselves (their identities), attitudes toward other racial groups (their prejudices), and beliefs about changes in the socio-political environment. Several statistically significant differences between the groups were found. Comparative analyses on identity and attitude variables performed with 263 white American adolescents were also statistically significant for all groups.

Serious consideration is given to the possibility that the traditional quantitative research orientation in psychology can no longer be considered the panacea that it was once believed to be. It is argued that any research approach, such as a quantitative one, which gives priority to the methodology as opposed to the phenomenon is based on inappropriate ontological reduction. Consequently, it is argued that psychology should aim more at being a descriptive science rather than an explanatory one. The traditional research modus operandi is compared with that offered by a qualitative approach and examples of such research are provided. The article concludes by outlining a programmed series of steps considered fundamental to any form of rigorous phenomenological research.S. Afr. J. Psycho/. 1986, 16: 117 -121 Die moontlikheid word ernstig oorweeg dat die tradisionele kwantitatiewe navorsingsorientasie in die sielkunde nie meer beskou kan word as die panasee wat dit voorheen veronderstel was om te wees nie. Daar word aangevoer dat enige navorsingsbenadering, soos 'n kwantitatiewe een, wat voorkeur gee aan metodologie eerder as die fenomeen, op onvanpaste ontologiese reduksie gebaseer is. Gevolglik word daar aangevoer dat die sielkunde moet poog om 'n beskrywende eerder as 'n verklarende wetenskap te wees. Die modus operandi van tradisionele navorsing word vergelyk met die van 'n kwalitatiewe benadering en voorbeelde van toepaslike navorsing word verskaf. Ten slotte bied die artikel 'n beskrywing aan van 'n reeks stappe wat as fundamenteel beskou word in enige vorm van betroubare fenomenologiese navorsing.