The following values affirmation prompt was adapted from one initially created by Richard

Paselk, Professor of Chemistry at Humboldt State University. It is a variation/adaptation of the

prompts used and posted by others, including Dr. Geoffrey Cohen (Stanford University) and
Akira Miyake (University of Colorado), who are widely credited for their ongoing research
regarding values affirmation and stereotype threat. This prompt is imperfect and still evolving,
and we (along with Dr. Paselk) encourage other faculty members to use, adapt, and improve
upon this version as appropriate for their own classrooms or settings.

Tips and variations:

Some versions of this activity request that students include their names, while others do not.
There is no consensus on which is better, so do what you think will be most comfortable for
you and your students.

You might consider coordinating with others in your department or college (i.e. use it in just
a few key gateway courses) to ensure that students are not doing this activity multiple times
at the beginning of each semester.

Feel free to add values that you or your students find most important. Some have suggested
adding compassion/kindness, connection with nature/environment, sense of humor, or
having fun.

Interested in learning more about stereotype threat? Visit:

www.reducingstereotypethreat.org

Finally, please note: research shows that informing students about the explicit reasoning
behind this activity (i.e. to alleviate stereotype threat) prior to implementing it can lessen
its impact.

Have you found something that works? We would like to hear from you! Email us at
diversity@humboldt.edu

Values Activity 1
 The following two page exercise will not be graded. You can have up to15 minutes to
complete it. The purpose of this exercise is to help me get to know you little bit.

Name______________________________________

Circle the two or three values most important to you

creativity helping society

community/relationships with family achievement in athletics, education,

and friends or career

political views connection with nature/the

environment
independence
athleticism, fitness
learning and gaining knowledge
spirituality or religion
money, wealth, or status
sense of humor/having fun
your
My relationship with my family and friends are important to me when I feel sad and lonely and know that I always have someone to count on/
when Im happy, I have someone social/cultural/racial
to share identity
the joy with. Someone to talk to about everyday life and share the ups and downs.
Other? _______________________
It is important to me because I love my friends and family.
honesty or integrity

Money, wealth or status is important

Based onto your
me when I compare myself
responses with my
above, friends and
please do when
the Ifollowing:
seek comfort in substantial things.
I love fashion and travelling, and photography, and all these require money. I need money for a lot of things - a house, a car,
to provide for my future family and give my parents and kids a good life.
First,
Status is important because look
of how othersat the
view me/values you
respect me, picked
determine as Im
whether most important
successful in life. :( to you.
Sad but true.

Next, think about times when these values were important to you.
Honesty/integrity is important to me in every aspect of my life. It is a value that once I cross the line, itll be very hard to get back. And I always want to live life not being ashamed of
Finally,
what Ive done but inculcate describe
good values in a
to the people fewmesentences
around - especially mywhy these
future kids values
and also are
to not let Godimportant
down. to you.

Focus on your thoughts and feelingsdont worry about spelling, grammar, or how well
written it is.

Values Activity 2
List the top two reasons why the values you selected are important to you.

1.

2.

On a scale of 15 where 1 is highly disagree and 5 is highly agree, rate the following
statements:

1. These values have influenced my life.

2. In general, I try to live up to this value these values.

3. These values are an important part of who I am.

4. I care about these values.

Values Activity 3