IAT Test

I completed two IAT tests, one on age and one on presidents.  I thought the tests were interesting, but did not always agree with the results.  Perhaps, if you feel strongly about a topic prior to taking the test the results may lean in one direction.  I questioned what factors the researchers considered when determining the results. Did they consider internet connectivity, delayed response or environmental distractions for the end user?

In regards to memory and associations, I caught myself  talking, outloud, to keep track of the letter and the task. The further into the test I went, the harder it became to focus.  My response time slowed down.  Once I experience the inital task  it became difficult to break the association for the new task.  I believe this excercise lends itself to understanding the relationship between associations and memory.  Associations become your memory.  The initial association I made, such as old is good, became the tool to answer the question correctly.  When then asked to associate old with bad, it became difficult to complete the new task.
I believe the designers of this excercise took to heart James's idea, "don't always ask the question, for example, in the same way; don't use the same data in numerical problems; vary your illustrions, etc., as much as you can" (p. 145). 

"To break up bad associations or wrong ones, to build others in, to guide the associative tendencies into most fruitful channels, is the educator's principal task"(p.137).  What a profound statement James makes.  I believe as educators to assist students in the formation of good associations is easier than breaking bad ones.  Once your mind creates an association it is difficult to undo it.