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Measuring implicit alcohol associations via the Internet: validation of Web-based implicit association tests
Katrijn Houben1, Reinout W Wiers
1Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands. k.houben@psychology.unimaas.nl
Behavior Research Methods
|November 13, 2008
Summary
Online assessment of implicit alcohol-related cognitive processes using the Implicit Association Test (IAT) is valid. Home-based IAT versions showed stronger links to drinking behavior than lab-based ones.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Cognitive Science
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Online assessment offers potential advantages for studying implicit cognitive processes.
- The Implicit Association Test (IAT) is a tool for measuring automatic associations.
- Validating online administration of the alcohol IAT is crucial for broader research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To empirically validate the online administration of the Implicit Association Test (IAT) for alcohol-related cognition.
- To compare the effectiveness of an Internet-delivered Flash-programmed IAT with lab-based software (Inquisit).
- To assess the impact of testing setting (lab vs. home) on IAT results.
Main Methods:
- Participants completed alcohol IAT versions in a controlled lab setting and on their home computers via the Internet.
- The study compared IAT versions programmed in Flash (online) and lab software (Inquisit).
- Data were analyzed to assess the robustness and consistency of findings across settings and software.
Main Results:
- Findings for the alcohol IAT were robust and consistent across different settings (home/lab) and software (Flash/Inquisit).
- Importantly, IAT versions administered at home showed stronger correlations with explicit measures and drinking behavior compared to lab-based versions.
- No systematic variations were observed based on the testing environment or software used.
Conclusions:
- The study demonstrates that the alcohol IAT can be validly administered online using participants' home computers.
- Online administration of the IAT is a reliable method for assessing implicit alcohol-related associations.
- Home-based IAT administration may offer enhanced sensitivity in detecting relationships with explicit measures and behavior.
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