Contact research has split into two questions of when and how contact reduces prejudice

Evidence

In addition to studying when contact works, researchers have recently taken a keen interest in understanding how contact works. In other words, social psychologists began to ask, “What are the psychological processes and mechanisms that underlie the effectiveness of contact as a means of reducing intergroup prejudice?” Our focus in this chapter will be on both when and how contact reduces prejudice. — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 1806

Categorization

• DEFINE: Distinguishes the ‘when contact works’ question (conditions) from the ‘how it works’ question (mechanisms), a useful scaffolding distinction.