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Bias: We may not want it, but we have it

Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 6:17 pm
by Saint Kurt
In the U.S. particularly, the election is causing an increasing dialogue in the media about the importance or unimportance of race in perception etc.

I was listening to NPR this afternoon and they were interviewing this sociology group at Harvard that designed a test of bias called the "Implicit Association Test". As with any kind of scientific testing, there must be a quantitative measurement for the results to mean anything. In this case, the measurement is reaction time and our ability to sort categories of positive and negative words along with faces of various genders, races, and nationalities. By measuring reaction time the test measures subconscious bias. (So though you may think you have none, the test may reveal unconscious bias.)

There is a test of African American racial bias, Middle Eastern bias, weight related bias... about 15 in all, including an Obama vs. McCain association test.

The Racial Bias, gender and weight bias tests and the results were pretty eye opening. Indeed, I like many, have bias where I don't want it.

Follow the "Demonstration" link to take a test.

-e

Bias: We may not want it, but we have it

Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2008 11:23 am
by The Drastic Spastic
So which racial group do you hate the most, SK?

Bias: We may not want it, but we have it

Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2008 8:29 pm
by Saint Kurt
The test said I had a slight bias against white Europeans.

-e

Bias: We may not want it, but we have it

Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2008 4:39 am
by steyn
*gasp* You don't like me :puppy

Oh well, I tried doing the test but that meant I had to turn off the pop up blocker...which meant I had to do extra work to do the test...so I just skipped the test. I think I can go on without knowing who I have unconsciously a biased against.

Bias: We may not want it, but we have it

Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2008 1:44 am
by Angelique
I took a similar test before. It might be different now with the US election being what its turned out to be (historic no matter who wins!), but my results were similar, with a very slight bias against white Europeans.

Bias: We may not want it, but we have it

Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2008 2:39 pm
by Elfdame
I installed the new Flash player but still am apparently not smart enough to get the puppy to work.

Oh, well. Guess I'll live with my unknown prejudices in addition to the glaringly obvious ones (eg, young people and males and scrawny types and cat owners -- just kidding about some of those!).