Unconscious bias
This research comprises two components. The first is to develop and validate a battery of baseline socio-demographic and psychological measures relevant to gender attitudes, including measures of the five factor model of personality, implicit theories of gender, gender essentialism and implicit gender attitudes measures (Go/No-go Association Tests). Secondly, this research will examine the effect of unconscious or implicit attitudes about gender roles, authority and stereotypes on a staff selection simulation task. The baseline measures component of this work will constitute an ongoing component of the training programs throughout the Gender Equality Project, to provide a database for all research partners to draw on in furthering research on gender equality and related topics.
A two-day Diversity Leadership Skills Training Program (DLSTP) has been developed to focus on unconscious bias in judgment, decision-making, and leadership communication. Dr Cordelia Fine (Melbourne Business School) and Dr Nick Haslam (University of Melbourne) will be commencing data collection for their research on unconscious or implicit gender bias in the first pilot DLSTPs in October with The Westpac Group and NSW Police Force.
