Questioning the Validity of the IAT: Knowledge or Attitude

Abstract

A series of experiments was conducted to determine if the Implicit Association Test is a valid measure of attitude, or if it instead reflects knowledge of the groups being tested. Participants were given positive or negative descriptions groups of which they had no previous knowledge. They then completed an IAT testing their attitudes towards these groups. The results revealed that the IAT was sensitive to whether the participants believed these descriptions were accurate. This indicates that the IAT measures more than simple knowledge, it is sensitive to whether knowledge is endorsed. These findings support the validity of the IAT as an attitude measure.