Review article

Implicit Association Test: Theoretical and Methodological Background

Iris Žeželj ; Odelenje za psihologiju, Filozofski fakultet, Univerzitet u Beogradu
Ljiljana Lazarević ; Odelenje za psihologiju, Filozofski fakultet, Univerzitet u Beogradu
Maša Pavlović ; Odelenje za psihologiju, Filozofski fakultet, Univerzitet u Beogradu

Abstract

Over the last two decades, there has been a rapid increase in usage of implicit measurement in domains of social cognition and psychology of individual differences, in addition to explicit self-report measures. Implicit measurement techniques can be utilized to estimate psychological constructs without asking subjects to produce direct verbal reports. Therefore, they are considered as a potential solution to some of the problems that emerge when explicit measures are being used (e.g. tendencies towards socially desirable self-presentation or attitude simulation). In this paper, theoretical and methodological bases are presented along with one of the currently most popular and empirically and methodologically, most grounded implicit technique – Implicit Association Test (IAT). The concept of implicit measurement and nature of processes that underlie implicit techniques (i.e. automatic processes) are analyzed. Structure and fundamental principles of the IAT design are discussed, including questions of defining the object of measurement and choosing proper stimuli. Furthermore, metrical characteristics of the IAT are presented, with special reference to the relationship between implicit and corresponding explicit measures. Moreover, the possibility of faking the IAT effects is discussed. At the end, advantages and drawbacks of both implicit measurement and IAT are reconsidered and it is pointed out on which occasions measuring psychological constructs in this indirect and relatively complicated manner (that implicit measurement implies) could be appropriate.

Keywords

implicit measurement of attitudes; implicit measurement of personality; automatic processes; implicit techniques; Implicit Association Test (IAT)

Hrčak ID:

56829

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/56829

Publication date:

30.6.2010.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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