Best research practices for using the Implicit Association Test.

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Social Psychology
• Psychometrics

Background:

• Implicit biases, stemming from unconscious attitudes and stereotypes, are a significant area of research.
• The Implicit Association Test (IAT) is a primary tool for measuring the association strengths underlying implicit biases.
• A need existed for updated guidelines on best practices for IAT research, as the last comprehensive treatment was over a decade old.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish and disseminate a consensus on recommended best practices for conducting research with Implicit Association Test (IAT) measures.
• To provide clear guidelines for reporting IAT procedures in empirical research articles.

Main Methods:

• A collaborative process involving 22 authors and 14 commenters to refine research practices.
• Development of 21 recommended practices through multiple drafts and extensive discussion.
• Gathering of agreement/disagreement judgments from 29 of 36 authors and commenters on the proposed practices.

Main Results:

• 21 recommended practices for IAT research were presented.
• All but two recommendations achieved endorsement from over 90% of knowledgeable respondents.
• Disagreements on two specific practices were documented and explained.

Conclusions:

• The study establishes a robust set of evidence-based best practices for IAT research.
• The recommendations aim to enhance the quality, reliability, and transparency of implicit bias research.
• Guidelines for reporting IAT procedures are provided to improve scientific communication.