Table 1 Study 7: attitude polarization as a function of Conditions and political orientation.

From: Wise reasoning, intergroup positivity, and attitude polarization across contexts

Study 7 (n = 791)

2-Way Condition × Target Group Interaction

F(1, 789) = 1.93, p1-/2-tailed = 0.083/0.165, η2p = 0.002

Mean positivity toward outgroup targets

Polarization

Mean positivity toward ingroup targets

 WRE

66.548

t = 2.34, p = 0.020

69.540

 Controls

62.906

t = 5.84, p < 0.001

68.121

 AC

63.233

t = 4.18, p < 0.001

68.605

 PC

62.592

t = 4.07, p < 0.001

67.656

 

3-Way Political Orientation × Condition × Target Group Interaction

 WRE vs. controls (AC & PC)

F(1, 787) = 4.808, p = 0.029, η2p = 0.006

 

Political orientation → outgroup positivity

Political orientation → ingroup positivity

Political orientation → attitude polarization

 WRE

t = −0.41, p = 0.648

t = 5.78, p < 0.001

t = 6.02, p < 0.001

 Controls

t = −3.95, p < 0.001

t = 9.38, p < 0.001

t = 13.90, p < 0.001

  1. Upper partition: result of a mixed-model regression; both one-sided and two-sided tests are provided. Lower partition: result of a mixed-model regression; two-sided test is provided. WRE reduced the effect of political orientation on attitude polarization. Whereas political conservatism related to less positivity to outgroup targets in Control Conditions, whether taken combined or separately, there was no such relation in WRE. Further, whereas conservatism predicted strong positivity to ingroup targets in Control Conditions, this was generally weaker in WRE.
  2. WRE Wise Reasoning Experimental Condition (n = 238), Controls Combination Of Pure Control Condition (n = 282) and Active Control Condition (n = 271), AC Active Control Condition, PC Pure Control Condition.
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