Implicit Bias
Background for Application Readers of the AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellowships
What is implicit bias?
Implicit bias refers to the attitudes or stereotypes that affect our understanding, actions, and decisions in an unconscious manner. Experiences and cultural histories shape us and our judgments of others and create unconscious, implicit assumptions that influence judgments and perceptions of others based on characteristics such as race, gender, sexuality, or age. Even when we intend to be fair, and believe we are egalitarian, we may apply biases unintentionally and act – or refrain from acting – in ways that can create unfair and destructive environments for science and scientists.
Why does AAAS care about implicit bias in application review and fellowship selection?
Fellowship awards are important indicators of success and recipients often cite the value of this experience in advancing their careers. However, research has shown that awards are not necessarily equitable (e.g., a study by the Association of Women in Science found that men win a higher proportion of scholarly awards and women win a higher proportion of teaching and service awards than expected). AAAS is striving to ensure that readers and committee members are aware of how implicit biases may impact their review so they can take steps to ensure that the reviews can be more objective. AAAS has created a structured review and selection process with clear scoring guidelines to limit the influence of bias as much as possible.
Where can I learn more?
This five-page paper on Implicit Bias from Jo Handelsman and Natasha Sakraney, formerly at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, discusses ways to measure implicit bias, the impacts of implicit bias, and ways to reduce these impacts.
This factsheet on addressing unconscious bias from the Association for Women in Science is particularly relevant, as it focuses on STEM workplaces and recognition.
Science’s problem with unconscious bias, an article from Chemistry World, explores a number of different types of implicit biases (including gender, race, and sexuality) and includes short reflections from scientists who took implicit association tests on what they learned. The tests they took are available from Project Implicit. Implicit association tests on the site can help people understand some of their implicit biases.
Finally, this series of informative videos produced by UCLA’s Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion is a fantastic primer on implicit bias, including a review of useful countermeasures to mitigate biases.
By agreeing to serve as an Application Reader, you declare you have reviewed the above.