Parent-Led Bias Reduction Training for Children's Racial Bias

Overseen By Patricia Devine, PhD

Age: Any Age

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Wisconsin, Madison

Disqualifiers: Non-English proficiency, Parent under 18, Others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

648 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether participants need to stop taking their current medications.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment EmBARK, Popular guidance, Practice first for reducing children's racial bias?

The research suggests that engaging parents, particularly White parents, in understanding and addressing their children's racial biases can increase parents' awareness and motivation to tackle these biases. However, there is limited direct evidence on the effectiveness of specific parental interventions like EmBARK, Popular guidance, and Practice first, indicating a need for more research in this area. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is Parent-Led Bias Reduction Training for Children's Racial Bias safe for humans?

The research articles reviewed do not provide specific safety data for Parent-Led Bias Reduction Training or its related programs like EmBARK, Popular guidance, or Practice first. They focus on the effectiveness and approaches to addressing racial biases in children, but do not mention any safety concerns or adverse effects. ^{1 2 6 7 8}

How does the treatment EmBARK differ from other treatments for reducing children's racial bias?

EmBARK is unique because it involves parents actively leading bias reduction training for their children, focusing on increasing awareness and concern about racial biases. Unlike other treatments, it emphasizes the role of parents in addressing and reducing their children's racial biases through structured guidance and practice. ^{1 2 9 10 11}

What is the purpose of this trial?

The goal of this clinical trial is to test a parent-led program for reducing children's racial biases in White families. The main question it aims to answer is: With training, can parents effectively address their children's racial biases? Parent will receive training and tools for addressing their children's racial biases. Researchers will study effects on both parents' and children's racial biases.

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for non-Hispanic White families with children aged 5 to almost 8 years old. Parents must be over 18 and both parent and child should only identify as White, without any other racial or ethnic identity. They also need to speak English well.

Inclusion Criteria

The child participant and their parent are both non-Hispanic White

My child is between 5 and 7 years old.

Exclusion Criteria

Non-proficiency in English on the part of the parent or the child

The child or parent identifies with another racial/ethnic identity in addition to White

I am a parent and I am under 18 years old.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Training and Intervention

Parents receive training and tools for addressing their children's racial biases, including narrated programs and reading books focused on race.

16 weeks

Regular virtual check-ins

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in self-efficacy, concern about bias, intergroup liking, diversity preference, and other measures.

4 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

• EmBARK
• Popular guidance
• Practice first

Trial Overview The study tests a program called EmBARK that trains parents in addressing their children's racial biases. It compares this approach against popular guidance methods and practice-first strategies to see which is more effective at reducing bias.

Participant Groups

Group I: Practice first Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Parents practice discussing books about animals with their children first, and then receive a narrated training program about children's racial biases and read books that are focused on race with their children.

Group II: Popular guidance Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Parents receive interesting popular press articles about children's racial biases and read books that are focused on race with their children.

Group III: EmBARK Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Parents receive a narrated training program about children's racial biases and read books that are focused on race with their children.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Wisconsin, Madison

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,249

Recruited

3,255,000+

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

Collaborator

Trials

2,103

Recruited

2,760,000+

References

1. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Parents' Role in Addressing Children's Racial Bias: The Case of Speculation Without Evidence. [2022]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Engaging White parents to address their White children's racial biases in the Black-White context. [2023]

3. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Beliefs about social norms and racial inequalities predict variation in the early development of racial bias. [2022]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Examining feasibility, acceptability, and participant experiences of an anti-racist parenting intervention for White U.S. parents. [2023]

5. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Racial Awareness and Bias Begin Early: Developmental Entry Points, Challenges, and a Call to Action. [2022]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Relations between colorblind socialization and children's racial bias: evidence from European American mothers and their preschool children. [2022]

7. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Implicit Racial Biases in Preschool Children and Adults From Asia and Africa. [2016]

8. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Children's evaluations of and reactions to racial discrimination. [2023]

9. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Individuating multiple (not one) persons reduces implicit racial bias. [2022]

10. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Antecedents and Consequences of Discrepant Perceptions of Racial Socialization between Parents and Adolescents within Mexican-Origin Families. [2023]

11. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Long-term reduction in implicit race bias: A prejudice habit-breaking intervention. [2021]