Participatory Methods

Identity sliders

The activity Identity sliders, based on the original concept of Personality Sliders, is reimagined here as a participatory and collaborative tool for defining key characteristics of any collective identity. It can be applied in communities, projects, work teams, social organizations, or any group seeking to explore and reach consensus on the values, principles, or styles that represent them.

Preparation

  1. Define the purpose:
    • Explore the values and principles of a group, team, or community.
    • Encourage dialogue and collaboration to build a shared identity.
    • Establish alignment around how the group wants to be perceived or how it wishes to act.
  2. Prepare the materials:
    • Whiteboard, flip chart, or collaborative digital tools for the sliders.
    • Sticky notes or markers to indicate preferences.
    • Slider templates adapted to the context of the group or project.
  3. Set up the space:
    • Make sure the space is comfortable and allows participants to interact with the sliders.
  4. To run the activity virtually:
    • Use collaborative platforms that support digital whiteboards and collective preference marking.

Step-by-step instructions

  1. Introduce the activity:
    • Explain that the goal is to reflect on and reach consensus about the values, principles, or traits that represent the group or project.
    • Emphasize that there are no right or wrong answers—the value lies in dialogue and collaboration.
  2. Present the sliders:
    • Draw or project a set of sliders that represent key attributes such as: – **Inclusive ↔ Exclusive** – **Traditional ↔ Innovative** – **Formal ↔ Informal** – **Collaborative ↔ Independent** – **Results-oriented ↔ Process-oriented**
    • Adapt the sliders to the context of the group (community, educational, organizational, etc.).
  3. Initial voting:
    • Provide sticky notes or use digital tools so each participant can indicate their position on each slider.
    • Let participants vote individually and silently.
  4. Facilitate dialogue:
    • Review the marked positions and promote group discussion about differences and similarities.
    • Ask participants to explain their choices and consider others’ perspectives.
  5. Build consensus:
    • Guide the group toward a shared position on each slider, encouraging respect and equal participation.
    • Record the final decisions in a document or template for future reference.
Recommendations

Before the activity

  • Adapt the sliders to the group’s context: Make sure the ranges are relevant to the specific goals of the team, community, or project.
  • Provide clear examples: Share examples of how different groups, brands, or communities might position themselves on the sliders to inspire participants.
  • Create a safe environment: Encourage a space where everyone feels comfortable participating and sharing their perspectives.

During the activity

  • Encourage equal participation: Invite all participants to share their views to ensure the resulting identity truly reflects the group.
  • Facilitate constructive dialogue: Help the group discuss differences respectfully and collaboratively, focusing on reaching consensus.
  • Use colors or visual aids: Use stickers, markers, or digital tools with distinct colors to make preferences more visible.

After the activity

  • Document the results: Record the final decisions and share a summary with participants to ensure clarity and future reference.
  • Apply what was learned: Use the outcomes of the activity to inform strategies, decisions, or specific actions related to the group or project.
  • Reflect with the group: Take time to evaluate how the process contributed to group cohesion and how it could be improved in future iterations.

Variations and extensions

  • Regular iterations: Repeat the activity at regular intervals to assess whether perceptions and priorities have shifted over time.
  • Additional sliders: Introduce new sliders based on emerging themes or specific group needs.
  • Storytelling integration: Invite participants to share stories or experiences that support their slider positions.
  • Comparative evaluation: Run the activity with subgroups and compare results to understand different perspectives within the team or community.
Inspiration

Sample sliders for multiple contexts

Community

  • Inclusive ↔ Exclusive
  • Traditional ↔ Innovative
  • Spontaneous ↔ Planned
  • Local ↔ Global
  • Open to change ↔ Resistant to change
  • Proactive ↔ Reactive
  • Individualistic ↔ Collectivist

Educational

  • Theoretical ↔ Practical
  • Formal ↔ Informal
  • Structured ↔ Flexible
  • Independent ↔ Collaborative
  • Knowledge-based ↔ Skills-based
  • Academic ↔ Applied
  • Conservative ↔ Experimental

Business

  • Competitive ↔ Collaborative
  • Results-oriented ↔ Process-oriented
  • Innovative ↔ Conservative
  • Hierarchical ↔ Horizontal
  • Fast-paced ↔ Cautious
  • Local ↔ International
  • Data-driven ↔ Intuition-driven

Creative

  • Minimalist ↔ Detailed
  • Realistic ↔ Abstract
  • Functional ↔ Aesthetic
  • Avant-garde ↔ Classic
  • Open process ↔ Closed process
  • Spontaneous ↔ Meticulous
  • Monochrome ↔ Multicolor

Social and environmental

  • Pro-sustainability ↔ Not sustainable
  • Local ↔ Global
  • Reactive ↔ Preventive
  • Connected to the community ↔ Disconnected
  • Conservative ↔ Innovative
  • Recycled-based ↔ New resources-based
  • Social justice ↔ Economic efficiency

Product or service design

  • Friendly ↔ Authoritative
  • Simple ↔ Complex
  • Luxury-focused ↔ Accessibility-focused
  • Functional ↔ Emotional
  • Innovative ↔ Traditional
  • Exclusive ↔ Mass-market
  • Customizable ↔ Standard

Cultural

  • Traditional ↔ Modern
  • Individualistic ↔ Collectivist
  • Local ↔ Universal
  • Conservative ↔ Liberal
  • Spiritual ↔ Scientific
  • Static ↔ Dynamic
  • Past-oriented ↔ Future-oriented
Materials
  • Slider template.
  • Sticky notes or markers.
  • Whiteboard or digital collaboration tools.
Online platforms
Purpose
The purpose of Identity sliders is to collaboratively build a shared vision of the values, principles, and characteristics that represent the group or project, fostering dialogue, reflection, and collective cohesion.
Type of activity
Collective ReflectionParticipatory DesignParticipatory Interaction
Level of participation
Shared decision-making, Collaborative assessment
Target audience
Students, Community leaders, NGOs and social collectives, Business teams, Creative designers, Researchers
Fields of application
Education and training, Community development, Organizational and business management, Public policies and governance, Innovation and design, Research and evaluation, Citizen and social participation
Estimated duration
30-40 minutes.
Ideal number of participants
6-15 people.
Topics related to this activity
Active CollaborationActive ListeningActive ParticipationAnálisis participativoCollaborative ReflectionCollaborative ToolCollaborative VisualizationsCreative Problem SolvingCreative ReflectionGroup IdentityGroup RecognitionGroup StrengtheningInclusive ParticipationKnowledge GenerationParticipatory AnalysisParticipatory ResearchVisual CommunicationVisual DocumentationVisual Tool
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