29 November 2009
Is our brain wired for bias?At Harvard, Project Implicit blends basic research and education in a virtual laboratory at which visitors can examine their own hidden biases. Project Implicit is the product of research by three scientists whose work produced a new approach to understanding of attitudes, biases, and stereotypes.
The Project Implicit site (implicit.harvard.edu) has been functioning as a hands-on science museum exhibit, allowing web visitors to experience the manner in which human minds display the effects of stereotypic and prejudicial associations acquired from their socio-cultural environment.
The Scientists
The Project
The Test
You are welcome to take as many "tests" as you like... but as a class we will do the Age Bias Test.
1. Click on the link for the test
2. Choose Demonstration (this insures your anonymity) and follow the instructions to get to the test.
Age ('Young - Old' IAT).
This test requires the ability to distinguish old from young faces.
This test often indicates that Americans have automatic preference.
3. In a minimum of five complete sentences reflect on what you have learned about yourself in this exercise.
4. Do you think our brain is "wired for prejudice?" Explain your answer.
5. How might this knowledge of our bias be used effectively? How might we "change" this bias?
