Study Guide: Implicit Bias and the Implicit Association Test (IAT)

📚 Quick Study Guide

• 🧠 Implicit Bias Definition: Unconscious attitudes or stereotypes that affect our understanding, actions, and decisions. They can be positive or negative and are activated involuntarily.
• 🧪 Implicit Association Test (IAT): A psychological test designed to measure implicit biases by assessing the strength of associations between concepts (e.g., race, gender) and evaluations (e.g., good, bad) or stereotypes.
• ⏱️ Reaction Time: IAT relies on reaction times; faster responses indicate stronger associations.
• 📊 IAT Scores: IAT scores reflect the relative strength of associations. They don't necessarily predict individual behavior in all situations, but they can reveal patterns of implicit bias.
• 🌐 IAT Availability: Available online, developed by researchers at Harvard, University of Virginia, and University of Washington.
• 💡 Important Note: IAT results can be influenced by various factors, including familiarity with the categories being tested and cultural stereotypes.
• 📝 Debate: The IAT's validity and reliability are subjects of ongoing debate within the scientific community.

Practice Quiz

1. Which of the following BEST describes implicit bias?
   1. A) Conscious and deliberate prejudice.
   2. B) Unconscious attitudes or stereotypes that affect our understanding and decisions.
   3. C) Explicitly stated opinions about social groups.
   4. D) Rational judgments based on factual information.
2. The Implicit Association Test (IAT) primarily measures:
   1. A) Explicit beliefs.
   2. B) Consciously held attitudes.
   3. C) Unconscious associations.
   4. D) Personality traits.
3. What does a faster reaction time on the IAT typically indicate?
   1. A) Weaker association between concepts.
   2. B) Stronger association between concepts.
   3. C) No association between concepts.
   4. D) Random response.
4. IAT scores are best interpreted as:
   1. A) Direct predictors of discriminatory behavior.
   2. B) Definitive measures of a person's character.
   3. C) Indicators of relative strength of associations.
   4. D) Proof of explicit prejudice.
5. The IAT was developed by researchers from which universities?
   1. A) Harvard, Yale, and Princeton.
   2. B) Stanford, MIT, and Caltech.
   3. C) Harvard, University of Virginia, and University of Washington.
   4. D) Oxford, Cambridge, and Imperial College London.
6. Which of the following can influence IAT results?
   1. A) Only a person's true beliefs.
   2. B) Only their upbringing.
   3. C) Familiarity with the categories being tested.
   4. D) None of the above.
7. A common critique of the IAT is related to its:
   1. A) Ease of administration.
   2. B) High cost.
   3. C) Validity and reliability.
   4. D) Widespread acceptance.