ERIC Number: EJ1457155
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2024
Pages: 17
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1523-6803
EISSN: EISSN-2328-9643
Observation and Reporting: A Teaching Case on Implicit Bias and Decision Fallacies
Deanna Malatesta; Susan Siena
Journal of Public Affairs Education, v30 n4 p635-651 2024
This is a teaching case focused on implicit biases intended to spark meaningful discussions about challenges we face in decision-making. The case narrative centers on a young woman, Elsa, who observes a situation she believes is suspicious: a young Black man escorting two White children to his car. In Part A, Elsa debates whether to call the police and considers whether her unease is a result of her own implicit bias. Students step into Elsa's role to evaluate her choices. Part B reveals Elsa's decision and explores the consequences. Students delve into the broader implications of reporting suspicious activity as well as the consequences of not reporting, learning that decisions are often more multifaceted and nuanced beneath the surface. The case also provides numerous pathways for instructors to explore related topics, such as social equity in public administration and the discretion exercised by law enforcement officers.
Descriptors: Decision Making, Vignettes, Perception, College Curriculum, Class Activities, Role Playing, Association Measures, Context Effect, Expectation, Social Bias, Racial Discrimination
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: Implicit Association Test
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A