Understanding implicit bias (UIB): Experimental evaluation of an online bias education program

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Educational Technology
• Social Science

Background:

• Implicit bias significantly influences behavior and decision-making.
• Understanding and mitigating implicit bias is crucial for promoting fairness and equity.
• Existing educational interventions for implicit bias vary in format and effectiveness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a brief online educational program, Understanding Implicit Bias (UIB), in improving knowledge, awareness, and behavioral intentions related to implicit bias.
• To assess the impact of the UIB program on objective and subjective knowledge, bias awareness, and intentions to reduce bias among college students.
• To determine the durability of the UIB program's effects over a two-week follow-up period.

Main Methods:

• Two experiments were conducted with college students. Experiment 1 involved 6,729 students randomly assigned to complete measures before or after the UIB program. Experiment 2 involved 389 students randomly assigned to the UIB program or a control group (TED talks).
• The UIB program consisted of four modules: defining implicit bias, the Implicit Association Test, the link between bias and behavior, and strategies for bias reduction.
• Dependent measures assessed objective knowledge, subjective knowledge, bias awareness, and behavioral intentions to reduce bias.

Main Results:

• Participants in the UIB intervention groups demonstrated significantly higher objective knowledge (d = 0.39–1.49) and subjective knowledge (d = 1.43–2.61) compared to control groups.
• The UIB program also led to significant increases in bias awareness (d = 0.10–0.54) and behavioral intentions to reduce bias (d = 0.19–0.84).
• These positive effects on knowledge, awareness, and intentions were sustained at a two-week follow-up assessment.

Conclusions:

• A brief, approximately 30-minute online educational program (UIB) is effective in enhancing understanding of implicit bias.
• Online learning modules can significantly improve knowledge, awareness, and behavioral intentions related to implicit bias among college students.
• The findings support the use of accessible online education as a tool for addressing implicit bias and promoting behavioral change.