Measuring prejudice often requires inferring attitudes from their observable effects

Evidence

Because consistent and reliable indicators like those cited above are difficult to come by, we often have to infer the presence of Islamophobia from its effects. The key is to understand the quality of the indicator and the likelihood that it reveals the underlying phenomenon. — Erik Bleich, Defining and Researching Islamophobia, 64

Categorization

• XREF: Echoes the general problem of measuring latent constructs via proxies in social science methodology. — connects to: Attitudes toward other minority groups were measured with averaged 100-point thermometer ratings — Chen-Bo Zhong, Adam D. Galinsky, and Miguel M. Unzueta, Negational racial identity and…, 32; Measuring stereotypes indirectly reveals prejudice explicit surveys miss — Anthony G. Greenwald and Mahzarin R. Banaji, Implicit Social Cognition: Attitudes,…, 194