Date on Honors Thesis

Spring 5-2-2024

Major

Political Science

Minor

Spanish

Examining Committee Member

Dr. Brittany Wood, Advisor

Examining Committee Member

Dr. Marc Polizzi, Committee Member

Examining Committee Member

Dr. Drew Seib, Committee Member

Examining Committee Member

Dr. Warren Edminster, Executive Director of the Honors College

Abstract/Description

Extant research suggests that implicit bias can predict behavior such as voting, policy preferences, and assessment of government performance (Pérez 2010). Yet, research on implicit bias has largely excluded people of color and differences in gender, leaving a wide gap in our understanding of implicit bias and its effects on society (Assari 2018: Orey 2013). In this study, I research implicit bias within the Black community and test its effects on political attitudes. I administered Harvard’s Implicit Association Test (IAT) and a survey to measure levels of implicit bias and subsequently race-related policy attitudes. I expect to find that the Black participants will possess a pro-White implicit bias, there will be significant gender differences in Black men and women, and that implicit bias will significantly mediate the relationship between gender and racial policy attitudes. This study supplements extant research by using a unique homogenous sample of self-identified black participants and adds to the knowledge of implicit bias and its political consequences.

Share

COinS