UNCONSCIOUS BIAS. WHAT IS IT? • In the hiring context: – Confirmation bias The tendency to hear information in a manner that confirms what we already believe – Availability bias The tendency to value most what we heard most recently – Affinity Bias The tendency to prefer those that remind us of ourselves
UNCONSCIOUS BIAS. Unconscious bias can be described as a kind of ‘star’ among the different fields of interventions favoured by institutions, and among the measures discussed in the interviews. In various GENERA partner organizations it seems totally clear that this is something that needs to be done or has been done already. Taking the unconscious gender bias test shows that almost all people are biased. This result does not blame anyone in particular; it makes it easy for scientists to acknowledge that a problem exists. It was argued that this form of awareness raising meets well the rationale of physicists: “it looks very much as a physics experiment” (P10_IP4). And as physicists are used to solve problems, bias training programmes are well accepted. In some GENERA partner organizations they are already offered to management staff and members of selection committees, sometimes also to researchers. To make bias trainings mandatory has not been possible so far in any organization. It was argued that common standards would be very helpful, which specify the quality of such trainings (How long? For whom? Mandatory or not?).
UNCONSCIOUS BIAS. WHAT IS IT? • In the hiring context: – Confirmation bias ▪ The tendency to hear information in a manner that confirms what we already believe – Availability bias ▪ The tendency to value most what we heard most recently – Affinity Bias ▪ The tendency to prefer those that remind us of ourselves ADDRESSING UNCONSCIOUS BIAS: BEWARE THE “GOOD FIT” MYTH • Selection involves less tangible/measurable KSAs that are inherently subjective For example: – Ability to work collaboratively – Ability to work with those already in a department – Leadership
UNCONSCIOUS BIAS. As a reviewer, I am required to complete the CIHR Unconscious Bias Training Module (xxxx://xxxx-xxxx.xx.xx/lms/e/bias/). I recognize that biases exist, unconscious or otherwise, understand how they can impact assessment of applications, and will take steps to mitigate them in the review process. I, the undersigned, have read and understood the provisions regarding Confidentiality, Conflicts of Interest and Unconscious Bias as described herein. Signature Name (print) Grant Panel Date
UNCONSCIOUS BIAS. This program is designed to provide an introduction to the topic of unconscious bias to school, college, and university educators. The program highlights variation definitions of unconscious associations, discusses the influence of these associations on student success and provides pathways to better understand unconscious bias in education. (4 modules, 15 hours, $200 registration) Racial Microaggressions: This program provides school, college and university educators with an introduction to racial microaggressions and their numerous manifestations in educational settings. The program also provides recommendations on how to reduce the prevalence and influence of microaggressions on recipients. (4 modules, 15 hours, $200 registration) Racelighting: This five-part course series addresses how schools, colleges, and universities can address racelighting. Racelighting is an act of psychological manipulation where people of color receive racial messages that distort their realities and lead them to second-guess themselves. There are two types of racelighting, active and passive. Active Racelighting occurs when the perpetrator has the intention of sowing doubt and disorienting the racelightee. Passive Racelighting occurs through an accumulation of microaggressions that serve to sow doubt and disorient the racelightee. Most often, these messages are unintentional. In this course, we address both forms of racelighting and provide specific steps that individuals and campuses can take to reduce racelighting and its impact on Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC). (5 modules, 20 hours, FREE)
