Laboratory Training

• Laboratory Training method is a process

oriented learning wherein the
participants learn by sharing their
experiences

• This method is also termed as Sensitivity

Training method , T- Group method etc
 Laboratory Training
Basic Assumptions of this method

Efficiency and Productivity of group depends

more often on the manner in which people
work together than their technological skills.
 Laboratory Training
• Salient features of Laboratory Training
• The method seeks to establish a linkage between
values, behaviour and actions of an individual
• The method provides the participants with an
intensive experience of sharing, participation and
change through exercises and training events
relevant to participants
• The focus is on development of competencies
• It is suggestive that The Training Programme is
conducted away from workplace
 Laboratory Training
• The number of participants should be 12-15
• Larger groups should be divided in to smaller
groups
• The changes that are brought about through
this method give more meaning and purpose
to an individual’s life
• The changes are towards a more integrative
and adaptive individual
 Laboratory Training
• The changes develop an individual’s ability to
modify the environment to remove
discrepancies and other dissonant factors and
achieve greater congruence between actions
and behaviour
• Laboratory Training creates a special
environment for learning about oneself,
interpersonal relations, group and
organizational dynamics
 Laboratory Training
• The Goals and outcome
– To contributes towards personal growth
through increased self-awareness and
interpersonal competence
– Emphasis on;
• Individual in the group
• Functioning of the group
• Working of the organization
 Individuals
• Success of this method depend upon
– Individual sharing their feelings, ideas, willingly
and openly
– Promote a process of self-examination and self-
awareness
– Assist an individual to explore and establish a
relation between;
• knowledge and competencies
• Values and emotions
 Individuals
• Assist an Individual to recognise
– Discrepancies between actions, behaviour and
feelings and bring about greater congruence
between these elements
– changes in their behaviour and actions
– And enable to widen the repertoire of behaviour,
competencies
– And perform the task in new and different ways
 Individuals
• An important outcome of this training method
“ There is greater coherence and coordination
between different facets of an individual’s
personality”
• This helps in establishing a distinct and
composite identity for an individual
 Groups
• The exercise aims to highlight different
dimensions of group life and familiarise
participants with various group process
• It focuses on the role individuals can play in
building a group and making it effectively
functional
 Groups
• Copes with group-related issues
– Interpersonal communication
– Power play and its impact on group life
– Interpersonal conflicts
– Stages in group development
– Influence of norms and structure on the life
of group and its functioning
 Groups
• Exercises designed to foster and nurture
healthy interpersonal relationship
• In the training Interaction not based in
theories and concepts but on live issues
brought by participants from real life situation
• Participants experience of working in group
provide necessary data for discussion
 Groups
• At the end of training participants carry new
awareness and insights into these issues and
agenda for change.
• This training enhances interpersonal
effectiveness of individuals and contribute to
the growth of the group
 Groups
• Laboratory training method is also referred as
T group training
• Exercise focus on conflicting choices such as
– Authority
– Control
– Group membership and leadership
– Assertion (Allegation) and Passivity ( Tolerance)
– Individual interest and group interest
 Groups
• In this training method individual learning
occurs
• Emphasis is on helping participants to become
more effective;
– problem solvers
– Group discussion leaders
– organizers of work groups
– Builders of group cohesion
– Better member of team
 Organisation
• Exercise helps individuals in better
understanding of an organization through;
– Examine and interpret the philosophy
– Working procedure
– Style of functioning of management
 Organisation
• The issues comes up for discussion are related
to;
– Team Building
– Communication network
– Interpersonal relations
– Allocation of responsibilities
– Competitiveness
– Teamwork and status in the organization
 Organisation
• Exercises based on HR training
– To improve individual Leadership and membership
 Factors Affecting Laboratory Training
Process
• Here-and-Now focus
• There-and-Then focus
• Value and Social Perspective
• Use of The Tools and Skills of INQUIRY
• Self as an Agent of Change
 Here-and-Now focus

• Major focus on releasing significant here-and-

now experiences and data for analysis
• Conceptualisation
• Practice
• Generalisation
• Participants are encouraged to share
experience openly
 There-and-Then focus

• Focus to be on real life situation where

participants will be working after training
• Supports from all concerned to participants
for implementing learning
• Participants attention needs to be focussed on
the relationship between here-and-now &
there-and-then
 Value and Social Perspective

• In laboratory method participants are

challenged to reassess the adequacy of their;
• value orientation and value perspective
• Motivation
• Knowledge
• Skills
 Use of The Tools and Skills of INQUIRY
• Learning and growth advanced when an
individual improves INQUIRY skills in;
– Data collection and Analysis
– Diagnosis
– Experimentation
– Evaluation
• Skills of INQUIRY help in assessing forces which
effect changes in real life situation
• Skills of INQUIRY help participants to become
more competent
 Self as an Agent of Change

• Participants need to understand that learning &

growth is their responsibility
• They are suppose to initiate steps for reducing
individual constraints
• In this process they should be open to take help
from others and also ready to help others
• Laboratory method assists the participants to see
themselves actually and potentially as agents of
change
 Conditions for Laboratory Training
• Willingness to be part of Laboratory Training
• Objective and Honest Approach
• Feedback
• Conducive Atmosphere
• Participants’ Ability to Learn from the
Experience
• Changes that have Potential for application
 Conditions for Laboratory Training
• Participants interact in an unstructured
situation
• The group is not defined
• Leadership is not offered by Trainer
• Behaviour is not prescribed
• Group evolves through natural process
 Role of The Trainer
• Expertise and skills in using this method
• Trainer should be aware about his own
behaviour, values, emotions and needs, all
these to be used appropriately in the training
situation
• Trainer should not force their views rather
value the process to encourage participants to
find appropriate direction
 Role of The Trainer
• Trainer should not suggest for the change rather
motivate the participants who are nominated
against their wish by their seniors
• Trainer should demonstrate the set of values
through her behaviour;
– To be open and authentic
– Talk Straight
– Be willing to accept and use feedback
– Support the process of making choices
– Should not be manipulative or controlling
participants
 Role of The Trainer
• Trainer encourages trusting behaviour