Month: December 2020

Professional thoughts

Caution is thus advised when it comes to programs aiming at reducing biases. Much more investigation into the long term effects of possible interventions is needed. The most problematic fine-grained implicit stereotypes need to be identified and a range of specifically-tailored interventions need to be designed to combat the whole gamut of prejudices that are problematic in our societies, not only targeting black/white race prejudice. More research needs to be conducted examining the conditions under which interventions will work and the factors that make them fail.

The fact that there is scarce evidence for particular bias-reducing techniques does not weaken the case for implementing widespread structural and institutional changes that are likely to reduce implicit biases, but that are justified for multiple reasons.

Feedback

The intervention has become attractive to the experts
The scenario could be more plentiful
Static web has restrained the final effect compared with dynamic website
There could be an internet forum section for participants to have more engagements with out groups More precise descriptions of appearance are required
I am happy to see people are waking up to their inner bias and trying to be in touch with story providers The intervention needs to be updated frequently to construct participants’ cognition

One participant have told me about an idea to set up a forum if am going to establish a dynamic web in the future instead of share the result online. He suggests me to consider gathering people from out groups to join the forum. And it can become a perfect place for people to communicate and look for counterexamples.

There also could be a unconscious bias training section. But it would require experts to join in. Implicit bias training will give participants the skills that they need to manage and overcome their own implicit biases.

As we mentioned before, restraining implicit bias or stereotype requires repeated process and long periods. So the web must be updated and renewed frequently to receive constant inputs to remain the effect. And there are some participants suggesting me to broaden the scenarios and characters.

Test with stakeholder

I have invited about 10 persons in total. All of them are volunteers I found on instagram. I am surprised that nearly half are willing to send me emails with their codes. So here are the comments after I post their viewpoints:

There is an example that really impresses me. The participant has chosen a guy who she assumed that would be a good foster father. And the reason was that he was white and well-dressed. I have got some responses online. A girl told me a story about his cousin-in-law, who was a successful lawyer and father of two kids. He was found a violent pedophilia after divorced with his wife.

Nearly all participants have received responses. Stories told by real persons obviously have stronger impact to them. And I suggest participants to exchange emails with providers if they are willing to. 

I am more than flattered to see that participants replied to my email. It has impacted their cognition and bias. One participant is willing to be in touch with the story provider. I wish this new friendship would further contribute to intervention.