Critical Thinking Tool: Race
Often current tests for racism (and other undesirable attitudes) fail as it is easy for participants to correctly guess the desired response. HFAL have developed a unique norm based test that allows the detection of decisions based on race. Our instrument is based on observable biases in behavioural decisions in various contexts rather than on unobservable, stable attitudes existing as ‘objects’ in the brain, which ‘cause’ behaviour.
The tool is at present a paper and pencil exercise whereby an individual is given a number of different profession specific related scenarios to make decisions upon. These may or may not be accompanied by race cues which allow this norm-based tool to measure changes in decision making. If an individual is shown to lie at the extremes, those responsible for recruiting investigate further. The tool acts as part of the overall evidence on which they base their decision.
Cheat Proof?
We are familiar with the issue of ‘faking’, which is increasingly problematic within a Western culture where people are ‘test sophisticated’ and can guess what the required answers are. Our own test has two competing sets of demand characteristics which enables us to detect those whose answers are strategic (known as ‘technical fails’).
HFAL is aiming to provide methods where our clients can be more robust when it comes to screening out people who make poor decisions based on race cues. Similar tools using this methodology can also be used to measure sexism and find out participants' attitudes to risk taking.
Key Tools: FDA - Functional Discourse Analysis
Key Tools: Incident Reporting Tool