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Would you take a test to find out about unconscious biases? How would you feel if the test "revealed" you were a sexist, racist, etc?

A research tool, which was started at Yale in 1995, called Project Implicit, allows its users to detect unconscious biases, such as racism, sexism, ageism, xenophobia, and other socially held biases. Would you take this test if you felt you were close to bias-free? How would a possible "positive" result for certain biases make you feel? Would you question your beliefs or question the validity of the test?

Source: https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/
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quesera
quesera
Marked as Best! October 30, 2009 12:09 AM
I have taken a couple of those, and I think they're bunk. The method for the test is specific to a certain learning and thinking style (in this case, how well you use technology). Therefore, when the test results come back, you have to somehow take into account your use of computers. You can also get good at taking the tests, deciding your own results, despite what they claim about having corrected for people trying to cheat. Personally, I think people should be able to be self-reflective enough and honest enough with themselves that they can decide for themselves if they have biases. Even if you won't admit them to others, you should be able to admit them to yourself. If you can't, the test won't do anything anyway, because you'll automatically dismiss it. I actually took one that said I had a strong bias, but I know for myself that I have a strong bias in the other direction! The test actually called me more politically correct than I am, but I know the less flattering version of myself is true because I can be honest with myself. But people will believe what they want to believe, so they're not going to just go by what the test says.
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marisaupa
marisaupa
October 29, 2009 11:24 PM
Any test would have to be structured in nature, in my mind this structuring requires rationality. It's this need for rationality in the testing process that inhibits the accuracy of the same test, as any social bias has a tendency to be irrational in nature. Many people who are not the least bit racist or sexist or any other "-ist" could under this system return results that are contrary to the true nature of their character.

I wouldn't place any credence on the results of such a test, be they what they may.
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thebandit
thebandit
October 30, 2009 02:28 AM
I've actually taken a couple of those tests. While they haven't revealed any unconscious preferences, I always get flustered while taking them because I'm worried about what they'll say. And when I make a typo, it really flusters me. Enough times, and I've gotten to the point where it finally says I've made too many errors for the test to give me a result.

But I don't think people should be scared of taking the test just because they don't want to see what it'll say. Ignorance may be bliss, but it's still ignorance. Why not see it as an opportunity to change?
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raerae2
raerae2
October 30, 2009 06:06 AM
Yes, I would take a test to detect unconscious biases. I feel that I'm fairly unbiased, but I'd like to know exactly where my biases lay so that I could become aware of them and do my best to correct them. That would be the best use for tests like that. I would use the information to improve myself rather than letting it shock and surprise me to the point that I'm brought down by it. The point of learning is to increase your ability and your knowledge, not to negatively influence your state of mind.
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