Abstract
Dual-process models are increasingly popular in sociology as a framework for theorizing the role of automatic cognition in shaping social behavior. However, empirical studies using dual-process models often rely on ad hoc measures such as forced-choice surveys, observation, and interviews whose relationships to underlying cognitive processes are not fully established. In this article, we advance dual-process research in sociology by (1) proposing criteria for measuring automatic cognition, and (2) assessing the empirical performance of two popular measures of automatic cognition developed by psychologists. We compare the ability of the Brief Implicit Association Test (BIAT), the Affect Misattribution Procedure (AMP), and traditional forced-choice measures to predict process-pure estimates of automatic influences on individuals’ behavior during a survey task. Results from three studies focusing on politics, morality, and racial attitudes suggest the AMP provides the most valid and consistent measure of automatic cognitive processes. We conclude by discussing the implications of our findings for sociological practice.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 308-333 |
| Number of pages | 26 |
| Journal | American Sociological Review |
| Volume | 84 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Apr 1 2019 |
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Keywords
- automatic cognition
- dual-process models
- measurement
- practical consciousness
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Sociology and Political Science
Cite this
Measuring Automatic Cognition : Advancing Dual-Process Research in Sociology. / Miles, Andrew; Charron-Chenier, Raphael; Schleifer, Cyrus.
In: American Sociological Review, Vol. 84, No. 2, 01.04.2019, p. 308-333.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Measuring Automatic Cognition
T2 - Advancing Dual-Process Research in Sociology
AU - Miles, Andrew
AU - Charron-Chenier, Raphael
AU - Schleifer, Cyrus
PY - 2019/4/1
Y1 - 2019/4/1
N2 - Dual-process models are increasingly popular in sociology as a framework for theorizing the role of automatic cognition in shaping social behavior. However, empirical studies using dual-process models often rely on ad hoc measures such as forced-choice surveys, observation, and interviews whose relationships to underlying cognitive processes are not fully established. In this article, we advance dual-process research in sociology by (1) proposing criteria for measuring automatic cognition, and (2) assessing the empirical performance of two popular measures of automatic cognition developed by psychologists. We compare the ability of the Brief Implicit Association Test (BIAT), the Affect Misattribution Procedure (AMP), and traditional forced-choice measures to predict process-pure estimates of automatic influences on individuals’ behavior during a survey task. Results from three studies focusing on politics, morality, and racial attitudes suggest the AMP provides the most valid and consistent measure of automatic cognitive processes. We conclude by discussing the implications of our findings for sociological practice.
AB - Dual-process models are increasingly popular in sociology as a framework for theorizing the role of automatic cognition in shaping social behavior. However, empirical studies using dual-process models often rely on ad hoc measures such as forced-choice surveys, observation, and interviews whose relationships to underlying cognitive processes are not fully established. In this article, we advance dual-process research in sociology by (1) proposing criteria for measuring automatic cognition, and (2) assessing the empirical performance of two popular measures of automatic cognition developed by psychologists. We compare the ability of the Brief Implicit Association Test (BIAT), the Affect Misattribution Procedure (AMP), and traditional forced-choice measures to predict process-pure estimates of automatic influences on individuals’ behavior during a survey task. Results from three studies focusing on politics, morality, and racial attitudes suggest the AMP provides the most valid and consistent measure of automatic cognitive processes. We conclude by discussing the implications of our findings for sociological practice.
KW - automatic cognition
KW - dual-process models
KW - measurement
KW - practical consciousness
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85063014989&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85063014989&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/0003122419832497
DO - 10.1177/0003122419832497
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85063014989
VL - 84
SP - 308
EP - 333
JO - American Sociological Review
JF - American Sociological Review
SN - 0003-1224
IS - 2
ER -