Examining implicit and explicit anti-Black racial bias in children: A repeated measure design using the Function Acquisition Speed Test (FAST)

Abstract

ABSTRACT Anti-Black bias involves negative evaluations of individuals from African-descendent groups. Researchers use explicit and implicit measures to detect this bias and evaluate intervention effectiveness. However, few behavior analysis studies have focused on identifying and addressing racial bias in children, and none have explored the effects of test-retest on implicit measures in this context. This study aimed to identify implicit and explicit anti-Black racial bias in children and examine the test-retest reliability of these measures over three time points. Thirty-four children (average age 8.60 years, 24 females) rated images of Black and White faces on a five-point Likert scale. The Modified Function Acquisition Speed Test (FAST), an implicit measure, assessed how fluently participants categorized Black and White faces with positive and negative images. Results showed no explicit racial bias in the sample. However, implicit measure results revealed an anti-Black bias, with 11 participants consistently displaying this bias across three repetitions. Regarding test-retest reliability, there were no significant performance differences on the implicit and explicit measures across the three repetitions. These findings suggest that the FAST is a sensitive tool for identifying racial bias in children, and the absence of test-retest effects supports its feasibility for repeated use.