Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure

The Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure (IRAP) is a computer-based procedure developed by Dermot Barnes-Holmes based on the Implicit Association Test (IAT) and Relational Frame Theory. It is used to measure implicit beliefs and attitudes by measuring the response latencies for consistent and inconsistent blocks. Studies using these procedures have found that inconsistent blocks tend to have longer response latencies than consistent blocks.

Each block contains a category label and a term that is either similar to or opposite of the category and the subject is to select a key to determine if the two terms are similar or opposite. Consistent blocks are trials in which the category label and the term is consistent with social norms while inconsistent blocks are trials in which the category label and term is inconsistent with social norms. For example, when measuring the implicit sexual beliefs of sexual offenders, Dawson, Barnes-Holmes, Gresswell, Hart & Gore presented a category label (e.g., adult or child) and a sexual term (e.g., sexual or non-sexual) and the participants were to select a key and determine if each block was true or false.

Uses for the IRAP include measure of implicit social stereotyping, ageism, attitudes toward work and leisure, self-esteem, deviant attitudes in child sex offenders, attitudes toward meat & vegetables from meat eaters and vegetarians, and other preferences.

One study also demonstrated that the IRAP is difficult to fake, a limitation that can be common to the IAT or other measures. Most studies to date have focused on undergraduate participants, although two other studies focused on Irish citizens and prisoners. Future studies on the IRAP would benefit from continuing to extend the population that has used this procedure.