Avoiding Bias

Unconscious biases are the underlying attitudes that people unconsciously attribute to another person or group of people that affect how they understand and engage with that person or group. This practice can be harmful and limits the innovation and excellence that diversity and inclusion promote.

Check out this article that discusses 12 ways unconscious bias shows up in the workplace and this resource on unconscious bias in academia and response options.

In addition, here are some excellent video vignettes and other information from NASA about avoiding falling into unconscious bias.

Explore Google's look into unconscious bias at work, and how they're seeking to combat the brain's tendency to fill in the gaps.

One of the first steps in avoiding bias, is identifying our own. Being willing to look at unconscious bias in our own lives allows us to better combat systemic stereotypes and prejudices. Psychologists at Harvard, the University of Virginia and the University of Washington created "Project Implicit" to develop a test for hidden bias. Try it out now.

Together with the Caltech Center for Inclusion and Diversity, we have talked with search and hiring committees around campus on concrete steps and best practices they can implement to avoid bias and promote equity in the recruitment process.  Please contact Hima Vatti at Hima.Vatti@caltech.edu to schedule this presentation and discussion.