A paper-format group performance test for measuring the implicit association of target concepts

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Social Psychology
• Psychometrics

Background:

• The Implicit Association Test (IAT) is a widely used tool for measuring implicit biases.
• Existing IAT methods often require specialized computer equipment and individual administration.
• There is a need for more accessible and group-administrable measures of implicit association.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a paper-based test for measuring implicit associations.
• To assess the reliability and validity of this new paper test against the established IAT.
• To explore the practical usability of the paper test for group administration.

Main Methods:

• A paper test was designed using a mechanism similar to the IAT, embedding target concepts among positive and negative words.
• Participants categorized target words as 'good' or 'bad' in timed tasks (20 seconds per task).
• The implicit measure was calculated as the difference in the average number of words marked across task pairs, allowing for group administration.

Main Results:

• The paper test demonstrated significant correlations (rs = .26-.35) with the traditional IAT results among 82 undergraduates.
• The test exhibited significant reliability, with correlation coefficients ranging from rs = .56 to .71.
• Results indicate the paper test is a viable alternative for measuring implicit associations.

Conclusions:

• The developed paper test provides a reliable and valid method for assessing implicit associations.
• Its group administration capability enhances practical usability in various research and applied settings.
• This accessible tool can facilitate broader research into implicit biases and social cognition.