This document presents 12 scenarios and asks the reader to provide an explanation for each without overthinking. It then provides potential explanations and scoring to evaluate how assumptions and biases may have influenced the reader's responses. The document aims to help the reader reflect on how stereotypes can shape explanations and assumptions, and how to overcome biases when interpreting observations.

1. Read each of the following scenarios on slides 2-5. Write down the first thing that pops into
your head to explain what is going on. For example:
Scenario: A child is crying. Next to the child is a broken toy.
Your explanation might be: The child is crying because her toy is broken.
Write down the first thing you think of for each scenario and do not overthink.
Slides 6-17 will help you evaluate your explanations.
Total your points. Then review the reflection questions on slide 18.
Can You Explain It?

2. u Observation #1: A married woman goes to a
single man's apartment two nights of every
week for three hours. What's your explanation?
u Observation #2: Two police officers visit your
next-door neighbor's house. What's your
explanation?
u Observation #3: A person smelling of stale
liquor is buying aspirin at 6 a.m. What's your
explanation?
Observations

3. u Observation #4: When you get home you find
your brother's car is dented in on the right
side. What's your explanation?
u Observation #5: You see a man chasing a
woman down an alley. What is your
explanation?
u Observation #6: A teenager carrying a heavy
backpack runs out the door of a convenience
store. What's your explanation?
Observations

4. u Observation #7: Two clean-cut young men wearing
dark slacks and white shirts ring your doorbell.
What's your explanation?
u Observation #8: It's dinnertime and the phone
rings. A pleasant person on the line asks for you
but mispronounces your name. What's your
explanation?
u Observation #9: Last week a mechanic fixed the
vibration in your car's front end. Now you feel the
vibration again. What's your explanation?
Observations

5. u Observation #10: Your boss and the director of
personnel are moving boxes out of your friend's
office. What's your explanation?
u Observation #11: You are driving down the street
when a car in a side driveway suddenly cuts in
front of you. What's your explanation?
u Observation #12: You're sitting in the airport
waiting for a flight. When you reach for your
newspaper, the person next to you is reading it.
What's your explanation?
Observations

6. If your answer was similar
to...
Give yourself ...
The two are having an affair. 0 points
She is his cleaner. 1 point
She is his mother and is caring
for him while he is sick.
2 points
He is a music teacher and she
goes there for piano lessons.
3 points
(Any answer that is more
creative.)
4 points
Scoring
Observation #1

7. If your answer was similar to... Give yourself ...
The police officers are questioning your
neighbors about some dreadful crime
they have committed.
0 points
The police officers are visiting the house
because the neighbors are their friends.
1 point
The neighbors are, themselves, police
officers.
2 points
The police officers are asking questions
about YOU!
3 points
(Any answer that is more creative.) 4 points
Scoring
Observation #2

8. If your answer was similar to... Give yourself ...
The person was out partying all night
and has a headache as a result.
0 points
The person is buying aspirin for their
partner who has the flu.
1 point
The person works in Johnny's Blues Bar
and has just finished the late shift.
2 points
The person spilled a bottle of rum when
trying to reach the breakfast cereal
bumped their head on the open cupboard
and are looking for a remedy.
3 points
(Any answer that is more creative.) 4 points
Scoring
Observation #3

9. If your answer was similar to... Give yourself ...
Your brother just had an accident. 0 points
The car has always been like that for
several days and you never noticed.
1 point
Old VW's always look like that. It's the
same on the other side.
2 points
The car is full of rust. This was bound to
happen.
3 points
(Any answer that is more creative.) 4 points
Scoring
Observation #4

10. If your answer was similar to... Give yourself ...
You are witnessing a case of domestic
violence.
0 points
She is a shoplifter; he is a plain-clothes
officer.
1 point
They are trying to catch their dog. 2 points
The two are practicing for a marathon. 3 points
(Any answer that is more creative.) 4 points
Scoring
Observation #5

11. If your answer was similar to... Give yourself ...
The teenager just robbed the store. 0 points
The teenager is late for class. 1 point
The teenager is a track star and runs
everywhere.
2 points
The store is on fire. 3 points
(Any answer that is more creative.) 4 points
Scoring
Observation #6

12. If your answer was similar to... Give yourself ...
They are proselytizing for a religious
group.
0 points
They are asking for directions. 1 point
They are canvassing the neighborhood
for a voter registration effort.
2 points
They are members of the high school
choral group with information about their
next performance.
3 points
(Any answer that is more creative.) 4 points
Scoring
Observation #7

13. If your answer was similar to... Give yourself ...
It's a telemarketer interrupting your
dinner.
0 points
It's your Malaysian friend who always
mispronounces your name.
1 point
It's a call from your friend, a practical
joker always giving you a hard time.
2 points
You are waiting outside a popular
restaurant and the hostess is calling on
your cell phone to tell you your table is
ready.
3 points
(Any answer that is more creative.) 4 points
Scoring
Observation #8

14. If your answer was similar to... Give yourself ...
The mechanic did a poor job. 0 points
You recently drove through wet, muddy
roads and mud is now caked onto the
suspension system.
1 point
You are driving over those bumpy
warning strips in the road.
2 points
Your teenager damaged the tires while
learning to parallel park.
3 points
(Any answer that is more creative.) 4 points
Scoring
Observation #9

15. If your answer was similar to... Give yourself ...
Your friend just got fired. 0 points
Your friend got a promotion and is
moving to another part of the building.
1 point
Your boss has decided not to keep
company documents in your friend's
office any longer.
2 points
The boxes should have been delivered to
the personnel director's office.
3 points
(Any answer that is more creative.) 4 points
Scoring
Observation #10

16. If your answer was similar to... Give yourself ...
The driver is an aggressive, rage-filled
road warrior.
0 points
The sun was in the driver's eyes so they
didn't see you.
1 point
The driver is inexperienced using a
clutch.
2 points
The car was hit from behind and was
pushed into your lane.
3 points
(Any answer that is more creative.) 4 points
Scoring
Observation #11

17. If your answer was similar to... Give yourself ...
The person has stolen your newspaper. 0 points
The person thought the paper had been
abandoned.
1 point
The person thought the paper belonged
to their friend.
2 points
The paper belongs to the other person.
Yours is still in your carry-on!
3 points
(Any answer that is more creative.) 4 points
Scoring
Observation #12

18. u What was your score? What does that indicate
about your assumptions?
(Hint: Lower scores = more bias)
u How did stereotypes and biases contribute to
your assumptions?
u How can you overcome these issues in making
assumptions?
Reflection