Reference no: EM133661654 , Length: 3 Pages
Assignment:
The IAT is a computer-based test that measures how rapidly people are able to categorize various words and images, and it capitalizes on the fact that most of us identify words and images more rapidly when they come from closely related categories than when they come from unrelated categories. For instance, if you associate librarians with intelligence and boxers with violence, you can probably tell in a split-second that synonyms for intelligence like smart and brainy relate to the dual category "librarians or intelligence," and synonyms for violence like aggression and hostility relate to the dual category "boxers or violence."But what if we switch the elements around, and you are asked whether smart and brainy relate to the dual category "librarians or violence" or to the dual category "boxers or intelligence"?
In this case it will probably take you longer to match smart and brainy with the category containing "intelligence," because these dual categories contain elements that are not stereotypically related to each other. Thus, by comparing the speed with which people categorize words or images, the IAT indirectly assesses how closely people associate certain elements with each other. To examine racial stereotypes, for example, the test might replace librarians and boxers with Whites and Blacks. With this version of the IAT, faster responses to "Whites or intelligence" and "Blacks or violence" (compared with "Whites or violence" and "Blacks or intelligence") could indicate the presence of an implicit stereotype.
Assignment
Take the Race IAT at. Once you select the test, you will need to read and follow the directions very carefully. Make sure to take the test in a place free from distractions as the test is measuring your reaction times and will be disrupted if you get distracted while taking it.You should then read the attached article on stereotypes and use information from the article and other assigned readings, videos, and podcasts to answer the questions below in a 2 to 3 pages of an essay:
1. Discuss your IAT results
- What were your IAT results?
- What do the results mean?
- Do you believe your results were accurate? Why or why not?
- What was your reaction when you learned your results? (E.g. How did you feel about the results?)
2. Identify factors that influenced your results
- What stereotypes do you think influenced your results? Include a discussion of at least three race-based stereotypes to which you have been exposed.
- What are some of the sources of any stereotypes you hold? In other words, where or when in your life have you been exposed to these stereotypes?
3. Reflect on the influence of stereotypes and the evidence for their influence
- Why do these stereotypes persist?
- Besides race, what other implicit biases might you hold (there are several other IAT tests available on the Harvard website)? What is your evidence?
- How do you think your implicit stereotypes might influence your behavior? Give at least three examples.
4. Discuss the Impact of implicit bias and stereotypes on policing
- How common are implicit biases, and how important are they compared with other overt biases? (Be sure to use research evidence to support your answer.)
- Based on the articles you read this week, discuss how implicit bias can influence policing, including day to day interactions between citizens and police, and decisions to use deadly force.
You must cite all of the information you utilize for your assignment and you should include a references page. All information included in your paper should be clearly supported by information from the course readings or videos to date. It should be obvious in your assignment that you have completed the assigned readings and are able to apply that information to make a well-thought out essay.