Reducing Implicit Bias Toward Non-Native Speakers of English Via Perspective Taking

Abstract

Using an independent groups design, an experiment was performed to test the hypothesis that a perspective taking exercise would reduce implicit bias against individuals who speak English as a second language. The dependent variable was a brief implicit association test, designed to detect bias against people who are Hispanic. Compared with a no-perspective taking control group, a perspective taking group showed no significant bias on the measure. Implications about how a perspective taking exercise might be applied more broadly are discussed.