Homework Assignment # 1 short paper “Eliminating
Bias” link to the Project Implicit
Harvard site is in Week 2 and the Webliography
One of the main points of the Harvard Implicit Association
Test was to illustrate the following:
The vast majority of people here in the United States
believe that they are not biased, prejudice and do not discriminate.
The conscious mind says — no bias — BUT — the unconscious
mind does, in fact, have a bias.
The majority of people in the USA, (even those members of
the groups against whom bias and prejudice exist) have attitudes consistent
with the “majority”. This means — the majority of people here are
biased in some way.
In other words — everyone, regardless of group membership,
believes the “right kind” of people are those the culture defines as
“right kind”. (By the way — when individuals from the
“out” groups have attitudes consistent with the majority in a
culture, and those attitudes are detrimental to the “out” group, —
it is called internalized oppression.)
Take several of the demonstration tests at the Harvard
Implicit Association link. Make sure you take tests that have some relevance to
this course. Select the “guest” entry
when you access the link. Then answer the following questions in a short
paper. Harvard Implicit Association Test
Start the paper with a short introductory paragraph that
explains to the reader what you intend to address.
Fully discuss your results of the tests you took for this
assignment.
After taking the Harvard Implicit Association Test – what
have you learned about yourself?
How do you think this bias developed if the tests show you
have a bias?
If the tests demonstrated that you may have some bias – how
do you intend to reduce or eliminate it?
What will you take from this exercise when you are a boss?
(Or if you are already one – will any of this have an impact on your behavior
in the workplace?)
How will you deal with this insight as a manager/boss when
you are dealing with people from other cultures and ethnic backgrounds?
Do you feel the assessments are accurate? Please discuss
this. Make sure you support your statement with credible research. Simply
saying “I do not agree with the result. The test was not fair” or
“The tests were completely correct.” is not adequate. If you do not agree or
you agree — no matter what the reason you must find supporting documentation
in the literature.
Finish the paper with a summary paragraph that provides an
overview of the paper’s content and a sentence stating what you have learned
from this assignment.
Use at least one outside reference each from a book, a
journal article and the internet in addition to the reference you make to the
Harvard website. You will have at least
four references for this paper. Cite your sources and make sure you adhere to
APA format. The paper should be about four (4-5) pages, double line spacing. It
is OK to use your text books as sources, but they do not count as outside
sources.
Note — For this paper you are discussing yourself. It is
OK to use first person in this paper. (For example: you could say “My scores on
the IAT were as follows—) Please double space and use New Times Roman 12
font. (10% of final grade)
Please see the Grading Rubric for Papers in Course Content
for grading details. (10% of final grade)
Upload your paper as a file and use the file name as
follows:
Example: Klisch-biasP
(Your last name – biasP)
You must submit papers as a Microsoft WORD doc.
Hint for the grading for this first paper.
Make sure your grammar is correct. This will play an
important part in the grading of your paper.
Make sure you search for the right APA format for your
references. Again, this will have a direct impact on your overall grade.
Make sure that you address the criteria listed above. Even
if your paper is excellent BUT it does not address the criteria it will have a
direct negative impact on your grade.
Use the required file name for your document when you upload
to your folder.
Note this first paper must be submitted to the WRIT 699M
writing center. It is optional for all
remaining written assignments.
Submitting this first paper to WRIT 699M is mandatory!
PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING BEFORE YOU WRITE YOUR PAPER
References — the appropriate use of credible sources
It is important that you use good quality sources when you
write papers and or postings for discussions. When you make a statement of fact
that is not common knowledge you must have a source to support that fact. For
example: If you say—-
all leaders must be resilient
discrimination against women is the very worst kind
genes are what determine behavior
Then you must provide a reference to support this claim. The
reference should be from some credible source. A credible source does not
include Wikipedia, newspapers, lay journals (like Reader’s Digest) or
information freely roaming around the internet. The source needs to be from a
text book, an academic journal or a lecture by a credible person.
These examples are not the only ones, but they should give
you an idea of what is considered an acceptable academic source.
If however, you say something like:
There are 24 hours in a day
The United States of America is a republic
China is an emerging economic giant
then you do not need to cite a source because this
information is common knowledge. If the average person would most likely know
what it is you are stating, then you do not need a source.
If you make statements of alleged fact and you do not have
evidence to support them, they are worthless. Further, they are completely
inapropriate in a graduate class.
