Description of the Scale

The Implicit Association Test (IAT) is a psychometric tool used to measure implicit attitudes and biases that may not be apparent through self-reported methods. The IAT assesses the speed with which individuals associate different categories with positive or negative attributes, revealing underlying attitudes.

The IAT-5 version includes five main parameters or categories for analysis, typically involving different attributes or groups for comparison. Participants are required to pair various category combinations, and the reaction speed is recorded to reveal implicit associations.

Analysis and Data Use

The analysis of data from the IAT-5 involves applying quantitative techniques to assess implicit attitudes. The process includes:

Descriptive Statistics:Means and Standard Deviations: Calculation of means and standard deviations of reaction times for each category pair.

IAT Score: The primary IAT score is calculated based on the difference in reaction times between different category pairs, usually employing the data processing techniques proposed by the test’s developers.

Reliability:Internal Consistency: Assessment of the tool’s reliability, often through test-retest or other methods.

Correlations:Pairwise Category Correlations: Examination of correlations between reaction times for different category pairs to understand the intensity of implicit biases.

Factor Analysis:Identification of Key Factors: Use of factor analyses to identify key factors influencing implicit attitudes, if necessary.

Objective

The main goal of the IAT-5 is to uncover implicit attitudes and biases that may not be apparent through self-reported methods. It is used for:

Research Purposes: Study of implicit biases and their relationship with social and psychological variables.

Clinical Assessment: Evaluation of implicit biases that may affect behavior and decision-making.

Educational Use: Understanding implicit attitudes and promoting awareness and education to reduce biases.

Calibration

The calibration of the IAT-5 involves analyzing data from the use of the scale to assess the reliability and validity of the tool:

Internal Consistency Evaluation: Calculation of the tool’s reliability using indicators such as Cronbach’s alpha or other metrics.

Comparative Analysis: Comparison of IAT-5 results with data from other studies to confirm the validity and reliability of the scale.

Bibliography

Greenwald, A.G., McGhee, D.E., & Schwartz, J.L.K. (1998). “Measuring Individual Differences in Implicit Cognition: The Implicit Association Test”. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 74(6), 1464-1480.

Nosek, B.A., Greenwald, A.G., & Banaji, M.R. (2007). “The Implicit Association Test at Age 7: A Methodological and Conceptual Review”. Social Cognition, 25(2), 262-280.

Bar-Anan, Y., Nosek, B.A., & Vianello, M. (2009). “The Relationship Between Implicit and Explicit Attitudes: A Meta-Analysis”. Psychological Bulletin, 135(6), 829-865.

Blanton, H., & Jaccard, J. (2006). “Distinguishing the Implicit Association Test from Explicit Measures of Attitude”. Social Cognition, 24(4), 213-246.