Are You Biased?

I read an interesting article in the New York Times by Nicholas D. Kristoff today titled. "What? Me Biased?" The author discusses racial bias as it applies to the present presidential election as well as to other situations. He offers up an online test which might define an individual's unconscious bias.

The implications of race in this election cannot be ignored. It seems that both sides have played the "race card" either explicitly or implicitly. One can say that race is not a consideration, but that would be ignoring a reality that Kristoff suggests is in play whether we believe we harbor bias or not.

How can one explain the massive turn out of black voters who overwhelmingly support Obama? Black voters are traditionally Democratic, but the possibility of a black president adds an element of excitement that heretofore has never occurred and can be seen in voting demographics. Of course large numbers of white voters must vote for Obama for him to ascend to the White House. What bias is being revealed?

Certainly, there is clamoring for change by members of both parties and the candidates have positioned themselves so that both are advocating change. So, is there an unconscious bias that will be revealed in the election result? Will large numbers of white voters not vote for Obama because he is black? Perhaps large number of white voters will vote for Obama because he is black and they want to demonstrate they do not harbor bias and are electing a president simply based on core issues. Are black voters registering their preference based in issues or might they be voting for Obama simply because he is black? Perhaps these bias questions should never be explored.

Kristoff offers up an online bias test here. The test is composed of a number of pictures where white and black men are either holding guns or not holding guns. Each test taker must make a split second decision to shoot or not shoot. The test taker simply presses a key on their computer keyboard and the results are tabulated. At the end of the test the results can be viewed and analyzed based on information found here.

If one feels that they are not biased they should take the test. Will their conscious beliefs be confirmed ?

One would be hard pressed to believe this test can be used to completely determine what bias exists in our unconscious minds, but it does present some interesting questions.

References:

http://magazine.uchicago.edu/0778/investigations/shooters_choice.shtml

http://www.westword.com/2008-04-03/news/target-practice-racism-and-police-shootings-are-no-game/1