Abstract
ABSTRACT
Purpose. The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand and systematically describe the essence of the experience of professional staff members at a public university who received implicit bias training (IBT) that includes the Implicit Association Test (IAT).
Theoretical Framework. Appreciative Inquiry (AI) was used, specific to the Discovery and Dream phases.
Methodology. A phenomenological design was used in this qualitative study. The researcher interviewed a purposeful, criterion-based sample of 10 participants. Moustakas’s research design method (1994) using a psychological approach focused on systematic steps in analysis procedures and guidelines. To build trustworthiness in the research, four criteria were established: credibility, transferability, dependability, and confirmability (Amankwaa, 2016; Connelly, 2016; Creswell & Poth, 2018; Guba, 1981; Lincoln & Guba, 1985). Bracketing was performed to focus on describing the participant’s experiences versus the researcher’s interpretation (Creswell & Poth, 2018).
Findings. The researcher reviewed transcripts to reveal 69 significant statements. Nine formulated meanings were constructed from the significant statements, and three themes emerged. The essence of the experience of receiving IBT that includes the IAT by the participants was described.
Conclusions. The study’s results support the key themes of IBT’s effectiveness that continues to be questioned with two themes: the ineffectiveness of IBT and the lack of changes in behavior, attitude, and beliefs after taking IBT. Another result supports the key theme of the need to reevaluate and reassess IBT with one theme: the need for and development of a successful IBT.
Recommendations. Future research could involve a larger sample size and/or participants from different divisions or the entirety of the university. Demographical data could be collected and analyzed for relational findings between the participants’ experience and demographics. Physical, mental, and emotional states, such as stress and anxiety, could be measured and analyzed in relation to taking the training with pretests and posttests. Research could be conducted using a shorter timeframe of when the participant took IBT for improved experience recall, or it could be conducted while the participant is taking IBT for immediate feedback. Further research could use the entire AI model to include the Design and Destiny phases and differing methodologies.