BIAS Lab
Bailey Identity And Social Cognition Lab
Bailey Identity And Social Cognition Lab
Led by Dr. April H. Bailey at the University of Edinburgh, the BIAS lab investigates questions about gender and other social groups. We use approaches from social psychology, cognitive psychology, experimental philosophy, and computational linguistics.
In one line of research, we investigate how people represent foundational human concepts, such as the idea of a "person." This concept shapes decision-making across domains. In the consumer domain, product designers make potentially costly decisions about what a typical “person” needs and wants. In the legal domain, jurors make decisions based on what a "reasonable person" might do.
In theory, the concept of a person applies to all people. In practice, we find the concept prioritizes men over women and White people over people of other race/ethnicities.
Through our research, the BIAS Lab seeks to understand how underlying psychological processes contribute to social inequities. Ultimately, we hope to help create a more equitable society for all. Our research has been featured in popular outlets including Scientific American and Psychology Today.
Research Findings:
<---video--- Bailey, A. H., Williams, A., & Cimpian, A. (2022). Based on billions of words on the internet, PEOPLE = MEN. Science Advances. Media Coverage
Bailey, A. H., Dembroff, R., Wodak, D., Ikizer, E., & Cimpian, A. (2024). People's beliefs about pronouns reflect both the language they speak and their ideologies. Journal of Experiental Psychology: General.
Theory:
Bailey, A. H., LaFrance, M., & Dovidio, J. F. (2019). Is man the measure of all things? A social cognitive account of androcentrism. Personality and Social Psychology Review. 23(4), 307-331.
2025: Research assistant Abigail received an Undergraduate Research Conference Award of Excellence for her presentation of her SURF research. Well-deserved! 🏆
2025: Dr. Bailey and BIAS lab affiliates Jialin Zhou and Sofía Briones presented our research at SPSP in Denver, CO. ✈️
2025: Jenny Jones joined the BIAS Lab as a professional research assistant with expertise in translation and linguistics. Welcome!
2024: The BIAS Lab was awarded a PPLS Small Project Grant from UoE
2024: Em Bolton joins the lab as a PhD student.
2024: The BIAS Lab moved to the University of Edinburgh (UoE) in Scotland. ✈️ 🏴
2024: Congratulations to BIAS Lab graduating seniors: Will Gaudreau, Erin Luckern, and Niko McPherson! 🎓
2024: PhD student Trish successfully defended their master's! Congratulations to Trish Burkins, M.S. 🎓
2024: Research assistant Natalie Wagner received the psychology department's award for an outstanding junior student. Way to go Natalie! 🏆
2024: Research assistants Sadie and Abigail received competitive summer funding fellowships. Congratulations Sadie and Abigail!
2024: PhD student Trish Burkins received a competitive summer funding fellowship, the "STAFF". Congrats Trish! 🏆
2024: The BIAS Lab was awarded a research grant through the Global, Racial, and Social Inequality Lab at UNH.
2023: Dr. Bailey presented research led by PhD student Trish Burkins at the SESP conference in Wisconsin. ✈️
2023: Sofía Briones joined the BIAS Lab as a research coordinator. Welcome Sofía!
2023: The BIAS Lab welcomed research assistants Cade, Courtney, Mi, Will G., Will C., Abigail, Sadie, and Niko to the lab. Welcome!
2023: The BIAS Lab presented research posters at the "Live Free" Symposium in Durham, New Hampshire.
2023: Research Coordinator Nich DiMaggio is accepted to the Chicago Booth School of Business Behavioral Science PhD Program. Congrats Nich!
2023: The BIAS Lab was awarded a research grant and summer funding through the Global, Racial, and Social Inequality Lab at UNH.
2023: The BIAS Lab welcomed research assistants Alexandra, Erin, and Paige to the lab.