Exploring preferences for multicultural workshop formats: Does the race of the trainer matter?

Abstract

Despite psychologists' decades of involvement in diversity, equity, and inclusion programming and other multicultural training experiences, little research exists regarding the perceptions and expectations of would-be participants. What formats do participants choose when they have the option and why? And does the race of the participant or the trainer have any impact on those choices? In this online exploratory study, participants responded to a vignette that presented them with the opportunity to choose from among three multicultural workshop format themes: cultural customs, structural racism, or experiential sharing of race-related experiences. Three experimental conditions varied the racial identity of the hypothetical workshop trainer. The results showed that most participants favored the cultural customs format, and neither the racial backgrounds of participants nor trainers affected that outcome significantly. Educational level was, however, associated with format choice in that participants who had completed higher levels of formal education were more likely to choose the structural and experiential formats. Implications for the design of multicultural programming are discussed with emphasis upon the importance of facilitating knowledge and competence with regard to structural racism. Public Significance StatementThis study suggests that, when they have a choice, people tend to choose workshops where they learn about cultural customs over those that focus on structural racism or on sharing one's thoughts about race and racism with others. Workshop facilitators can better plan such programming with these attitudes in mind, given that ultimately, the eradication of structural racism requires facilitating people's awareness of it.