Implications of Unconscious Bias

1. Implications of Unconscious Bias by Thomas Baker School of Engineering & Technology Outline: Introductions Definitions Implications of Bias Actions

2. Definition: Bias bias, v.  1. trans. To give bias to (a bowl); to furnish with a weight or bias 2.transf.  a. To give a bias or one-sided tendency or direction to; to incline to one side; to influence, affect (often unduly or unfairly).  b. To incline to or towards; to cause to swerve. c. To influence or incline (one) to do anything. Oxford English Dictionaryhttp://www.oed.com/view/Entry/18565

3. 3 Possibilities: Conscious Bias Unconscious Bias Unintended, but perceived Bias

4. Unconscious Bias (Barefoot, 2013) • “our unintentional people preferences that result from the process of socialisation and social categorisation” • Likely to be activated whenever we encounter people who are similar to us and those who are different to us. • For example, age based biases and ethnic based biases can impact on employment • Three types of bias: • Affinity (like me) bias; favours people like us • Confirmatory bias; search for information that confirm our existing perceptions • Social comparison bias; developing sense of individual and group identity – a need to see ourselves as better than other groups (Robertson, 2013) Laura Ellen , Blind Spot; what you can’t see might be murder)

5. 3 Possibilities: Conscious Bias Unconscious Bias Unintended, but perceived Bias

6. Implications to Learning and Teaching Can be an obstacle to learning May reduce student performance (Gladwell, 2005 ; Steele and Aronson; 1995) Can influence Student’s or Tutor’s bias

7. 4 Possibilities of Bias in L&T Positive Bias Student Tutor Negative Bias

8. 4 Possibilities of Bias in L&T Positive Bias Student Tutor Negative Bias

9. 4 Possibilities of Bias in L&T Positive Bias Student Tutor Negative Bias

10. 4 Possibilities of Bias in L&T Positive Bias Student Tutor Negative Bias

11. 4 Possibilities of Bias in L&T Positive Bias Student Tutor Negative Bias

12. What can you do? Positive Bias • Cultivate Positive Bias • Maintain Positive Bias Tutor Negative Bias

13. What can you do? • Ideas from practice: • Learn names • Shake hands • Respect & Learn customs

14. “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing” Edward Burke (Possibly!).

15. Useful resources References • Barefoot, H. BME Attainment Workshop at University of Hertfordshire, 23/01/2013 • Gladwell, M Blink, London: Penguin Books (2005) • Oxford English Dictionary, Online: http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/18565accessed 1 May 2013. • Robertson, D. (2013) Unconscious bias: business impact. In Equality Opportunities Review (232) • Steele, C & Aronson, J “Stereotype threat and the Intellectual test performance of African Americans” Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 69, No. 5 (1995) 797-811.