Paradigma: Teste de associação implícita

Abstract

The implicit association test paradigm (IAT), introduced by Greenwald, McGhee and Schwartz (1998) as an instrument to study the strength of associative links between concepts and cognitive representations, became, in recent years, a measure of choice to access constructs such as attitudes, beliefs or stereotypes, not only within the fields of social psychology and social cognition, but in several other research domains (e.g., clinical, organizational, politics) as well. The present article describes in detail the methodological aspects intrinsic to the IAT, and provides information about variables known to moderate the IAT’s effects, which need to be carefully considered while planning studies. We also review some of the most relevant theoretical explanations to the mechanisms underlying the IAT effect and present the main criticism directed at the paradigm.