Implicit Association Test (IAT)
What is the Implicit Association Test (IAT)?
The Implicit Association Test (IAT) measures automatic associations between concepts (e.g., flowers, insects) and evaluations (e.g., pleasant, unpleasant) using reaction times. Developed by Greenwald, McGhee, and Schwartz at Harvard and adopted by researchers at the University of Virginia, it reveals implicit attitudes that may not appear in explicit self-reports.
Instructions
In this task, you will categorize words related to flowers, insects, pleasant, and unpleasant concepts. This IAT test measures implicit attitudes and implicit cognition by comparing average response times and calculating IAT scores.
Keyboard Controls
Left Category
Right Category
Press the correct key or click buttons to sort each word.
Try to respond as quickly as possible while making as few mistakes as possible.
If you make a mistake, a red X will appear. You will need to press the correct key to continue.
Show Details
Nature and Basic Paradigm of the IAT
As a quantitative implicit measures method, the IAT test measures reaction time differences for compatible versus incompatible pairings. Stimuli appear in the middle of the screen to minimize visual search time and focus on true automatic associations. By relying on response times rather than self-reports, this design reduces social desirability bias and captures implicit cognition.
Frequently Asked Questions
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The IAT measures the strength of automatic associations between different categories (e.g., flowers, insects) by comparing response times and accuracy to reveal implicit attitudes.
IAT results reflect your implicit attitudes, which may differ from your explicit beliefs. Use them for self-reflection rather than as definitive judgments.
Yes. IAT scores can be affected by your current emotional state, attention level, or environmental distractions. For more stable measures, complete the task in a quiet, focused setting.
Theoretical Foundation of the IAT
The IAT is based on the dual-attitude model, which assumes both explicit and implicit attitudes can coexist. Implicit attitudes operate unconsciously and are reflected in reaction time differences. This paradigm draws on semantic memory and connectionist network theories to measure the strength of automatic associations.
Theoretical Foundation of the IAT
The IAT is based on the dual-attitude model, which assumes both explicit and implicit attitudes can coexist. Implicit attitudes operate unconsciously and are reflected in reaction time differences. This paradigm draws on semantic memory and connectionist network theories to measure the strength of automatic associations.
Advantages and Limitations of the IAT
The IAT offers unique advantages: it minimizes social desirability bias, leverages test measures of response times to uncover hidden biases, and provides sensitive implicit attitude measures. However, its limitations include susceptibility to factors like participant familiarity, attention, and practice effects. IAT scores are relative measures of association strength, not absolute indicators of prejudice.
Application Areas of the IAT
The IAT is applied in multiple fields: 1. **Social Psychology Research**: Measuring racial bias, gender stereotypes, and group attitudes. 2. **Clinical Psychology**: Assessing implicit suicidal ideation and therapy outcomes. 3. **Consumer Behavior**: Exploring brand associations and marketing preferences. 4. **Education and Diversity Training**: Identifying and mitigating implicit bias in workplaces and schools. Researchers at the University of Virginia have used IAT scores to predict discriminatory behavior in real-world contexts.