Roger Kent Finke, Thesis Supervisor Dr. Jeffery Todd Ulmer, Thesis Honors Advisor
Keywords:
immigration economy crime
Abstract:
The consequences of immigration have been a topic of discussion and debate for centuries. The behaviors and activities of immigrants have been closely observed and thoroughly researched. A large body of research reviews how immigrants influence immigration policy, the economy, and crime. Immigrants’ perceptions of societal issues, however, have not been given much attention. An individual’s immigration status might determine perceptions of societal problems, such as immigration, economy, crime, and others. It is important to consider how being an immigrant, or the child of an immigrant, might determine the different values and perceptions of the community in which they live. How is immigrant status related to perceptions and attitudes of the most important societal problems in the community? Using the Houston Area Survey, this research finds that an individual’s immigration status holds a strong relationship with perceptions of social problems.
