IAT Test

iat tests, i.a.t, blink test, race test, the implicit association test

ÒI took the first Race IAT,Ó said Greenwald, who has taken the test hundreds of times since. ÒYes, the results at first surprised me.Ó

The IAT works by measuring the amount of time a person takes to sort Ògood and badÓ words with pictures of different types of faces or objects. For example, during the Race IAT, words and pictures of either African American or Eastern European faces flash on the screen in rapid succession. The test-taker must then link certain words and pictures with certain buttons on a keyboard. The amount of time it takes a person to press the corresponding button can be measured and used to determine hidden biases.

The test takes less than five minutes to complete. Finding out the results of the IAT can be an eye-opening experience.