Skip to main content

Problems Completing the IAT

Where is my feedback?

Answer: Your feedback appears on the final page of the study. Once you exit the study, we have no way of accessing your results directly. This is done to make sure that individual data stays confidential.


What type of browser will work in order to take the tests?

Answer: The tests are compatible with recent versions of common browsers such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Safari. The following are the minimum system requirements:

  • Javascript must be enabled
  • Cookies must be enabled

Linux users must have common system fonts installed.
Mac users should not use Internet Explorer.

If you're still having troubles, please report the nature of your difficulties.


I can't access the tests. When I click on a test, there is a message that says an error has occurred. What should I do?

Answer: There may have been a network error. You may want to wait and try again.

If you're still having troubles, please report the nature of your difficulties.


Taking the test on a mobile device (smartphone / iPad)

Answer: There are a couple of ways to get to our touch-compatible tests (which don't require the use of a keyboard): you may start a touch-compatible test here . Alternatively, when you visit implicit.harvard.edu, you should see a yellow banner appear at the top of the screen. Clicking that banner should lead you to tests that should work on your tablet or smartphone.

If you're still having troubles, please report the nature of your difficulties.


I tried to take the IAT and all I saw was a blank screen -- no test. What's the problem?

Answer: There may be an error in the test

please report the nature of your difficulties.


I tried to take the IAT and the program produced a red X and stopped. What's the problem?

Answer: When a word or picture is not classified into the appropriate category, a red X appears. Each word or picture has one and only one correct classification. For example, if you are sorting Old and Young faces and Good and Bad words. All of the Old faces are categorized with the key associated with 'Old', all of the Young faces with the key associated with 'Young', all of the Good words with the key associated with 'Good', and all of the Bad words with the key associated with 'Bad'. If you make an error in classification the program waits for you to make the other response from the one you originally made before it proceeds. If this happens for only a few items, the test may still be useful for you. Nevertheless, you will be obliged to give the response expected by the applet in order for the test to proceed.

If you're still having troubles, please report the nature of your difficulties.


When the test is complete, and I try to print the results, I get a message that reads "We are sorry, an error has occurred. Please try again later." This has happened on two different occasions. Could you help me figure out how to print the results?

Answer: Unfortunately, we don't have control over whether or not the page will print -- that is determined by the settings of your local computer. Here are a few suggestions:

  1. Try to save the page by going to File -> Save As and saving it as a local file. Then close your browser and try to open it again and print it.
  2. You can save the screen image and copy and paste it into Word, and then print it. To do this, hit the "Print Screen" key on your keyboard whenyour results are on the screen. Then, open a word processing program such as Microsoft Word. Hit CTRL+V to paste the image into a document. That should create a document that you can print.

If you're still having troubles, please report the nature of your difficulties.


I was only able to get halfway through the IATs and then it would lock up. What's wrong?

Answer: If at any time during the test you clicked outside of the test window (e.g., you responded to an IM or checked your email), then the application will lose focus, and the IAT will stop responding to and recording your keystrokes. In order to fix this, simply move your mouse over the box in the middle of the screen, and then left-click.

If you're still having troubles, please report the nature of your difficulties.

How are data privacy issues handled?

Answer: Please view our privacy policy here.