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36th Annual Convention; San Antonio, TX; 2010

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Symposium #184
The Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure: Current Research and Applications
Sunday, May 30, 2010
10:30 AM–11:50 AM
Lone Star Ballroom Salon D (Grand Hyatt)
Area: EAB/EDC; Domain: Experimental Analysis
Chair: Catriona O'Toole (National University of Ireland, Maynooth)
Abstract: The Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure (IRAP; Barnes-Holmes et al, 2006) is an experimental procedure designed to assess relations between stimuli. The IRAP provides a number of measures of relational responding (i.e. response latency, accuracy, and difference-scores). It therefore offers a very rich methodology for examining the importance of relational processes in human cognition. As the name suggests, the IRAP can be used to assess implicit attitudes and beliefs, such as those that an individual may prefer to conceal or deny. In this symposium four papers will be presented which use the IRAP as a methodology. These focus on an analysis of homophobic attitudes, racial prejudices, and analyzing the strength and persistence of newly formed attitudes. The final paper uses the IRAP as a methodology to analyze relational frames, and discusses its potential utility in educational settings.
 
The Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure: Assessing Automatic Anti-Gay Bias—Some Methodological Issues
DERMOT BARNES-HOLMES (National University of Ireland, Maynooth), Claire Cullan (National University of Ireland, Maynooth), Yvonne Barnes-Holmes (National University of Ireland, Maynooth), Cailte Ronan (National University of Ireland, Maynooth), Ian T. Stewart (National University of Ireland, Galway)
Abstract: Three experiments determined the impact of reducing response-latencies from 3000 to 2000ms; and manipulating the number of IRAP-samples on the size/direction of individual IRAP-effects. Participants were assigned to Exclusively-Heterosexual (EH), Non-Exclusively-Heterosexual (NEH), and GLB groups using the KSOG (Experiments 1 & 2). The IRAP presented one of two samples (‘Straight,’ Gay’). Two sets of targets were presented (negative terms for gay-people/positive terms for straight-people). Each set of targets was presented with each sample. Participants had to respond quickly (Experiment 1, 3000ms; Experiment 2, 2000ms) and accurately (80%) to the relation between the sample and target by choosing the correct relational-term. The Single-Label-IRAP was identical to the IRAP from Experiment 2; the Multiple-Label version presented 6 samples (Experiment 3). NEHs did not discriminate significantly between Gay and Straight, but EHs and GLBs showed significant in-group biases (Experiments 1 & 2). Critically, effect-sizes produced in Experiment 2 were three times larger than Experiment 1. In Experiment 3, the pattern produced earlier by heterosexuals was replicated in both IRAPs. Large D-IRAP-effects for the ML-IRAP group differed across trial-types more dramatically than for the SL-IRAP group. Reducing IRAP response-latencies and increasing the number of samples may provide a more valid measure of implicit homonegativity.
 
The Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure: Does It Matter if You're Black or White?
PATRICIA M. POWER (National University of Ireland, Maynooth), Dermot Barnes-Holmes (National University of Ireland, Maynooth), Yvonne Barnes-Holmes (National University of Ireland, Maynooth), Ian T. Stewart (National University of Ireland, Galway)
Abstract: This paper presents a series of studies that sought to use the IRAP to assess implicit racial stereotypes. Black and White Irish residents were recruited from the community using advertisements. The IRAP (a computerized response-time measure) involved presenting the sample stimuli “I think WHITE people are” and “I think BLACK people are” with either positive or negative target words (e.g., “Friendly” or “Hostile”). Each trial presented two response options; “True” and “False”. Participants were required to make speedy and accurate responses in either a Pro-White/Anti-Black direction or a Pro-Black/Anti-White direction. A range of self-report measures were also completed. Analysis of variance statistics indicated that IRAP response latencies depended upon the direction of the task, the race of the sample stimuli, and critically, on the race of the Participant. Specifically, White Irish Participants showed an in-group, Pro-White bias and a significant Anti-Black bias, while Black Irish Participants showed no such discrimination, producing positive bias across all trial types. Consistent with previous research in this domain, there were few significant correlations between the implicit and explicit measures (e.g., Greenwald & Banaji, 1995; Greenwald, et al., 1998). Within the domain of prejudice, a divergence between performance on implicit and explicit attitude measures has been viewed as evidence to support the theoretical distinctiveness of implicit and explicit cognitions. The current findings, therefore, concur with previous research (e.g., Dasgupta, McGhee, Greenwald, and Banaji, 2000), and provide preliminary evidence that the IRAP may be used to reveal socially sensitive attitudes, which may not be expressed using a typical explicit measure.
 
On the Strength and Persistence of Newly Formed Attitudes: An Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure Analysis
SEAN HUGHES (National University of Ireland, Maynooth), Dermot Barnes-Holmes (National University of Ireland, Maynooth), Yvonne Barnes-Holmes (National University of Ireland, Maynooth), Ian T. Stewart (National University of Ireland, Galway)
Abstract: Across three studies we sought to determine if the strength and persistence of laboratory induced attitudes is moderated by (1) extending an existing relational network to include novel relations and (2) manipulating the amount of evaluative information provided about each relation. Attitudes were established through either a detailed or minimal information narrative that repeatedly paired individuals with either positive or negative evaluative functions. To assess the emergence and persistence of those attitudes, participants completed a battery of self-report measures followed by an IRAP in Studies 1-2 and an IAT in Study 3. Study 1 depicted the actions of six fictitious members of the Nazi party during World War II; three Nazi’s possessed positive and three Nazi’s negative evaluative attributes. Studies 2-3 characterised two fictitious social groups (Niffites and Luupites) as either positive or negatively valenced. Analyses of variance statistics provided evidence that attitude effects emerged on both the IRAP and IAT. As predicted, the strength and persistence of those attitudes varied as a function of the amount of information received and whether the attitude group was fictitious or well-known. Results offer evidence that attitudes can be formed through extending an existing relational network to include novel stimulus relations with evaluative properties
 
Relational Frames and Cognitive Abilities: A Systematic Investigation Using the Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure
CATRIONA O'TOOLE (National University of Ireland, Maynooth), Dermot Barnes-Holmes (National University of Ireland, Maynooth)
Abstract: Previous published and unpublished studies have shown that relational abilities, and in particular, flexible relational repertoires, correlate significantly with human cognitive abilities (e.g., O’Toole & Barnes-Holmes, 2009). However, in these earlier studies, only similar/different and before/after relations were investigated. The current paper examines two additional relational frames: a hierarchical frame and a frame of comparison (bigger/smaller). The current study employs the Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure (IRAP) as a methodology to present the relational tasks. After completing the IRAP tasks, the WAIS III and the AH4 were administered to participants. Data from the study are currently being collected. Results will be discussed in terms of a comparison between the four relational frames analysed across the current and previous studies. The importance of relational abilities to human cognition will also be discussed.
 

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