Description:

Agree/ Disagree/ Not Sure, also known as “vote with your feet”, is an activity used to generate discussion in a training and bring out participant attitudes about violence against women and HIV. The facilitator sets up three islands around the room—one for “agree”, one for “disagree” and one for “not sure”. The facilitator reads aloud controversial statements, one at a time. After each, participants vote about whether they agree, disagree or are not sure with the statement by walking to the island that states their views. They then discuss to explain and defend their views—and attempt to convince the participants who are “not sure” to join them.

Note: This validation method can also be seen as a part of the Activity in Training validation method, since Agree/ Disagree/ Not Sure may be included in trainings as an activity to generate group discussion and shift—not only validate—participant attitudes.

When to Use:

Agree/ Disagree/ Not Sure can take 15 minutes or more, depending upon the number of controversial statements the facilitator wishes to explore. It is a fun way to validate group knowledge and to get a snapshot of current group attitudes. Participants generally enjoy the activity and do not recognize it as a validation method—and feel freer to express their opinions than with many other methods. However, it is typically less useful as a pre/post exercise because attitudes change slowly, over time and not usually within one short training. For example, once participants begin to debate on a certain side of an argument, they typically defend their position within that discussion. Then after the training—or even days, weeks or months later—they often self-reflect about the idea and, depending on the other opinions they have heard in the interim, and some rethink their original position on the issue. In other words, it is not likely that, by doing an Agree/ Disagree/ Not Sure exercise at the beginning and end of a multi-day training, there will be much sign of progress. However, with groups being engaged over the long-term, this method can be used periodically—every every quarter, biannually, etc.

Note: For more information about using Agree/Disagree/Not Sure as a validation method, download Training Validation Methods: A how-to guide for assessing participant learning.