Do executive abilities influence the performance on an Implicit Association Test?

Abstract

Current self-report measures are vulnerable to different types of bias that affect the overall validity of the measure (Paulhus, 2017). The Implicit Association Test (IAT) was developed to overcome this issue through categorization of target concepts (Greenwald, Mcghee, & Schwartz, 1998). Research has indicated that task switching ability plays a contaminating role in producing the IAT score by yielding smaller results (Klauer & Mierke, 2001, 2005, 2010). Thus, it is important to assess whether the test measures what it claims to be measuring. This dissertation investigates the extent of this potentially influencing factor. A Letter-Number Task and an Implicit Association Test (Coke and Pepsi; Positive words and Negative words) were administered to a sample of 46 individuals aged between 18 - 52 years. Participants were split into two groups: video game players (VGPs) and non-video game players (nVGPs). Groups were separated to allow score comparison, as VGPs have shown improved task switching abilities, making them a sample of interest when comparing results. (Boot et al., 2008). Results were compared and analyzed through correlational methods. VGPs outperformed nVGPs in the cognitive tasks and achieved lower IAT scores. However, the results from this sample failed to reach a significant level and thus suggested that task switching ability did not influence the IAT score. This could have possibly occurred due to the sample size as well as unaccountable and contaminating variables. The significance of this present study lies in provision of data in assessing the validity of a useful measure.