The Effects of Role Playing in a Program to Modify Attitudes Toward Black Employees

Area of Science:

• Organizational Psychology
• Workplace Diversity and Inclusion
• Management Training

Background:

• Workplace environments often face challenges related to racial bias.
• Effective management training is crucial for fostering inclusive work cultures.
• Understanding and modifying racial attitudes in professional settings is an ongoing objective.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of a one-day management training program on racial attitudes.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of role-playing exercises in modifying race-related perceptions.
• To identify specific racial awareness factors influenced by the training.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 2292 managers (male/female, white/black) participated in the training.
• A role-playing exercise focused on five statistically derived racial awareness factors.
• Pre- and post-questionnaires measured changes in racial attitudes.

Main Results:

• Participants engaging in role-playing showed the most significant attitude change.
• Improvements were most pronounced on three out of the five targeted racial awareness factors.
• The training demonstrated a measurable impact on managers' racial perceptions.

Conclusions:

• Role-playing exercises are an effective tool for management training in racial awareness.
• Targeted interventions can lead to positive shifts in workplace racial attitudes.
• Management training plays a vital role in promoting diversity and inclusion.