Creating an Implicit Measure of Cognition More Suited to Applied Research: A Test of the Mixed Trial – Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure (MT-IRAP)

The Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure (IRAP) is a promising tool for measuring implicit cognitions in applied research. However, the need for training and block effects can limit its capacity to assess effects with individual stimuli and participants, both of which are important for applied research. We developed a modified IRAP, the Mixed Trial – IRAP (MT-IRAP), in an attempt to correct for these problems. The MT-IRAP was tested with 58 undergraduate students using conventional good/bad words, emotion words, and words describing substance abusers. We found consistent, significant MT-IRAP effects at both a word list and individual word level and somewhat consistent effects at an individual participant level. The applied utility of the measure was supported by observed relationships between MT-IRAP effects and self-reported experiential avoidance and attitudes towards substance abusers. The MT-IRAP may provide an implicit cognition assessment tool that can be used with less training, and that provides consistent effects for specific stimuli