Attitudes are favorable or unfavorable evaluations of objects. An attitude object could be a process (example: teamwork) or product (example: smart phones); concrete (example: clock) or abstract (example: eternity); internal (example: self-esteem) or external (example: manager); individual (example: significant other) or collective (example: colleagues).
All training topics involve one or more attitude objects; training objectives involve increasing positive attitudes (example: appreciating diversity in the workplace) or negative attitudes (example: discriminating against minority employees).
According to Gregory R. Maio and Geoffery Haddock (in The Psychology of Attitudes and Attitude Change), attitudes include three components represented by the acronym CAB: cognitive (thoughts), affective (feelings), and behavioral (experiences). Our attempts to achieve attitudinal objectives should involve measuring and modifying the participants’ attitudes.
CAB Game requires training participants to collect, organize, and share their thoughts, feelings, and experiences related to the training topic. You, as the trainer, can build upon this interactive foundation.
The following description of the CAB Game involves the topic of employee diversity. You can use the structure of the game as a template to explore the affective aspects of other training topics.
Synopsis
The participants individually list their thoughts, feelings, and experiences related to an attitude object. Later, three teams identify and share the top five items related to the cognitive, affective, and behavioral components among the items listed by the participants.
Purpose
To identify thoughts, feelings, and behaviors associated with employee diversity in the organization.
Participants
Minimum: 6
Maximum: Any number
Best: 12 to 30
Handouts
Employee Diversity Survey, one copy for each participant. (Make copies of the pdf document at the end of this article)
Supplies
Flip-chart paper
Felt-tipped pens
Flow
Brief the participants. Explain that you are going to conduct an activity related to diversity among the employees in the organization. Your goal is to collect everyone’s thoughts, feelings, and experiences related to this area. You will collect these items anonymously and process them in groups.
Distribute the survey. Give a copy of the three-part survey to each participant. Explain that the survey explores people’s thoughts, feelings, and experiences related to employee diversity. Ask the participants to complete the survey independently. Emphasize the confidential nature of the survey. Announce a suitable time limit and get everyone started.
Collect the completed surveys. While the participants are filling out the survey, set up a table in the front of the room with three trays labeled Thoughts, Feelings, and Experiences. After a suitable pause, ask the participants to separate the three different completed pages of the survey and place each page on the appropriate tray in the front of the room.
Organize three teams. When all survey pages are placed in the trays in from of the room, organize the participants into three teams of equal size. Give each collection of the pages (Thoughts, Feelings, and Experiences) to a different team.
Classify the items. Ask individual members of each team to take one of the survey pages, review the list of items written by the participant on that page, and code each item into one of these three categories:
Write a “+” in front an item if it is positive statement.
Write a “-” in front of an item if it is negative statement.
Write a “0” in front of an item if it is a neutral statement.
Ask individual team members to work on the pages, one at a time, writing +, -, or 0 in front of each item until all survey pages are coded.
Identify five positive items. After all items on all pages are coded, ask the team members to jointly review the items with a + in front of them. Instruct each team to select five items that are the most positive. Supply each team with a sheet of flip-chart paper and a felt-tipped pen. Ask the team members to copy the top five positive items and post the list on the wall.
Share the findings. Invite the participants to walk around the three posters and study the five items on each poster. Encourage them to discuss the items with each other.
Employee Diversity Survey
1. Your Thoughts About Employee Diversity
We are interested in identifying your thoughts about diversity among the employees in your organization. Please list attributes and characteristics of diversity in your workplace, using single words or short phrases. List as many items as necessary to describe your thoughts about employee diversity. There are no correct or incorrect responses. Please be honest. Do not use your name or the names of others since this is an anonymous survey.
Employee Diversity Survey
2. Your Feelings About Employee Diversity
We are interested in identifying your emotions toward diversity among the employees in your organization. Please list the emotions you feel about diversity in your workplace, using single words or short phrases. List as many items as necessary to describe your emotions. There are no correct or incorrect responses. Please be honest. Do not use your name or the names of others since this is an anonymous survey.
Employee Diversity Survey
3. Your Experiences with Employee Diversity
We are interested in identifying your experiences related to diversity among the employees in your organization. Please list your recent experiences, using short phrases or sentences. List as many items as necessary to capture your experiences with employee diversity. Please be honest. Do not use your name or the names of others since this is an anonymous survey.