Implicit Association Test (unconscious preferences)

[MacGuffin]

I was reminded of this by the racism thread. These sets of tests measure how you view other people, an automatic preference that few are consciously aware of. There are tests based on race, sexuality, weight, religion, gender/science relationship, etc.

Be aware that you may find the results objectionable. For example, most people prefer white faces. This usually holds true even for non-white test takers.


https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/

The demo tests are found here:

https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/demo/

[rohit]

"I got an 'inconclusive' result. Does this mean I have no automatic preference or association."

[MacGuffin]

"I got an 'inconclusive' result. Does this mean I have no automatic preference or association."

Yes, or the test cannot determine one at present.

[Bluehaze]

"I got an 'inconclusive' result. Does this mean I have no automatic preference or association."


Yes, or the test cannot determine one at present.
"I got an 'inconclusive' result. Does this mean I have no automatic preference or association.

Answer: The 'inconclusive' result means only that, for one of several possible reasons, the data produced in your test were ones that cannot be interpreted confidently with regard to automatic associations. This is different from a result that shows little or no association, which will be reported to you as 'weak or no' automatic preference/association (not as 'inconclusive')."

Source: https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/demo/faqs.html#inco

You have completed the Family - Career IAT.
-Your data suggest little or no gender association with Career or Family

You have completed the Black-White IAT.
-Your data suggest little or no preference for White American relative to Black American

You have completed the Fat People-Thin People IAT.
-Your data suggest little or no automatic preference for THIN PEOPLE relative to FAT PEOPLE

[Edmond Zedo]

"I'm...complicated."

[MacGuffin]

Mine:

"Your data suggest a slight automatic preference for White American relative to African American"

As I expected.

[Warrior413]

I took the African-American test and quit after I kept accidentally saying stuff like laughter, joy, love, etc. were bad... but I can tell who's black and who's white, if that's supposed to be an accomplishment. :huh:

[CapnEnnui]

I think that's actually the point, Warrior413. I think it gauges what you get wrong and, more importantly, when you get it wrong (like hitting bad after an afro-american when it's a good word, etc.) I think the "just faces" and "just words" part is a warm-up so people get the hang of it, then the part where they mix is what's actually important. I don't know how else it could measure anything.

As for me, it says I'm unbiased. But really, it's pretty arbitrary; people make mistakes. I just happened not to make more than two.

[Warrior413]

I think the "just faces" and "just words" part is a warm-up so people get the hang of it, then the part where they mix is what's actually important.
:D What I meant was I messed up on the warmup, heheh. Then again I was multitasking and triggerhappy...

[CapnEnnui]

Yeah actually, that's the part I messed up too. It might even measure how often you screw up on that part, to give an idea of if you're just messing up, or if you're racist, and compare the "just ___" part to the "mix" part for accuracy. Or something.

Of course, this is all speculation.

[Hazy]

All of my results were inconclusive.

I think most of the "errors" are caused by the person not adjusting to the changed positions quickly enough, therefore accidentally pressing the wrong button (or at least coming close to it), as opposed to an "unconscious drive". After the amount of repetition in the first stage, adjusting to the rearranged categories feels awkward, as the original positions are still in the memory.

Not a great method of testing (especially as it's from Harvard).

[elle]

i'm inconclusive

[last_caress]

You have completed the Black-White IAT.
The line immediately below summarizes the results of your task performance.
The result could not be determined

[Pan]

Did the african/european racial one and the gender/career one. I got little or no bias for both... but I don't know if that has as much to do with a lack of bias (though I don't think I'm biased) as it does with an ability to keep the four relevant categories separate in my mind. I can walk and chew gum at the same time... therefore I am not a racist. Yay for me.

[Jooka]

I was told I have slightly more positive feelings toward dark skinned people. I guess that part in Huckleberry Finn where Huck's dad is described as "fishbelly white" had a profound effect on me. My god, that was creepy, and the bastard had to be an abusive drunk on top of that.

[Samantha543]

The test tells you to associate two things and then switches it around, so you're naturally going to be more inclined toward the first association.

[MasterMerk]

I did a few a while ago.

Strong preference for dark skinned people.

Strong preference for gay people.

Strong preference for the elderly.

Of course, I was trying to get these scores, or trying to see if I could. Think positive! ^_^

[cathmc]

I did this a while back, too. It showed I have a moderate bias for white over black.
I know some people object to the outcome - especially liberal types who consider themselves unbiased. I did find it a little upsetting to get this outcome, and I thought about all the arguments people make for why the test doesn't really prove anything.
To me, though, it's not about being bias-free b/c you can't necessarily control what biases have developed in your mind. I know I have a bias that has been built into me by my upbringing - both explicit influences from other biased people, and the implicit effects of having known very few black people personally. So all I can do is try to be aware of my biases, and consciously work not to act based on that bias. Of course you can also address your biases by making an effort to get to know more people of the group you're biased against.

One interesting thing I read about this test was that blacks tend to reveal a bias for whites over blacks almost as often as whites...

[INTrePid]

Very interesting.

[ATPB]

One interesting thing I read about this test was that blacks tend to reveal a bias for whites over blacks almost as often as whites...

Doesn't that kind of ruin the point?

[booyalab]

i tried to take this quiz again (i tried when this thread was new), but it set me into a rage partway through again. "Laapians are"..........GODDAMMIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! STFU
at least i got further than last time....the first part didn't piss me off as much, just a little.

edit: i can't decide if i'm too simple for this test, or too smart.

[Methofelis]

Apparently I feel strongly for moderately sized white people. Hmm.

[Niffer]

the link doesn't work.

[shum]

I was reminded of this by the racism thread. These sets of tests measure how you view other people, an automatic preference that few are consciously aware of. There are tests based on race, sexuality, weight, religion, gender/science relationship, etc.

Be aware that you may find the results objectionable. For example, most people prefer white faces. This usually holds true even for non-white test takers.


https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/

The demo tests are found here:

https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/demo/

i dont want to do anything there as i dont want to be a part of anything like that.

[abweichend]

Interesting test, I'm going to be completing a lot of them.

[ThirtyFour]

How odd. I was just telling someone about this test today and wondering where I could find the link. I took this test a couple of years ago and tested with a slight preference for African Americans and a large preference for thin as opposed to fat people.

[Humanophage]

It says I hate Buddhists. Bald Buddhist skulls! Smash! SMASH!

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f389/Humanophage/buddhists.jpg

I'm inclined to think that their technique is largely worthless.

[Infinityvers]

i dont want to do anything there as i dont want to be a part of anything like that.

Me too, although I tried but bailed out when I didn't like this, found it strange. Maybe I'm misunderstanding something, I hope so.

[Begoner]

The problem is that I metaphorically associate "white" with purity/innocence and "black" with evil/guilt -- and this is a fairly common device used in Western culture. Unfortunately, when I look at a Caucasian face, I automatically classify it as "white" rather than Caucasian or European, and I far more readily associate "white" with positive words than I do "black". So, apparently, I have a strong bias in favor of white people.