1. 4-H Consumer Decision Making Contest
Prepared By Roberta O. Rios
Extension Agent – Home Economics
Rio Arriba County Extension Service
11/14/2018

2. What is CDM? A judging contest.
Learn how to observe, compare and make decisions based on facts,
to organize thoughts and defend decisions, and
to rank similar products based on standards of quality.
4-H'ers become
better consumers.
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3. Who Can Participate?
Novice
Juniors
Seniors
Cloverbuds
11/14/2018

4. What do 4-H’ers judge? Snacks Jeans One Time Use Cameras Credit Cards
Athletic Shoes
Insect Repellant
Cameras
Snacks
Jeans
Repellant
Athletic Shoes
Credit Cards
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5. Activity #1 – It’s Study Time!
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6. How Is Judging Done? Each class has 4 similar items.
Read the situation statement.
Look over the items carefully.
Take notes (short, simple and easy).
Rank the items 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th.
Check the correct placing on placing card.
Contestants have 8 minutes per class.
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7. How To Take Notes… Placing: 2 – 4 – 3 – 1 Placing 2 – 4 – 3 – 1
(write your notes)
2/4 (write notes)
4/3 (write notes)
(write notes)
3/1 (write notes)
(write notes #2 #4 #1 #3
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8. Activity #2 – It’s Judging Time4
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9. What Are Oral Reasons?
An explanation of why the items are placed first, second, third and fourth.
A judge listens to the reasons and scores on accuracy, information, and delivery.
Time limit = 2 minutes.
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10. Helpful Hints: Practice aloud. Use notes for cues, not to read from.
Organize by dividing class into 3 pairs –
Top Pair
Middle Pair
Bottom Pair
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11. Outline for Giving Reasons
State your name or contestant number, name of the class, and how you placed it.
“I am contestant number 4a. In this class of toys I placed the Etch-a-Sketch first, the Ball second, the Push Toy third, and the Viewmaster last”.
Present your reasons, beginning with the most important reasons for the top choice first.
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12. Example: a class of toys
“I place number 3, the etch-a-sketch, first because it can be used by an eight-year old who has no brothers or sisters”.
“I place number 3 over number 4, the baseball, because…
Remember, judging and reasons are based on a situation statement.
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13. More Helpful Hints… Use proper terms for that class.
Avoid words like “good”, “nice”, “better”.
Avoid “I like” (personal preference).
Use words that relate to the standards, or the situation.
Reasons should be short and definite.
Remember to….
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14. Stand straight in front of judge. Make eye contact with judge.
Be neat and clean.
Don’t chew gum, wear cap or hat.
Remember the 2-minute time limit.
Speak loud and clearly.
Pronounce words correctly.
Use comparative terms.
Don’t read your notes.
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15. Activity #3: It’s “Reason” Time
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16. How To Learn More About CDM
CDM Leader Guide.
CDM Practice Classes.
CDM Study Guides – one per category.
Conduct a judging activity at Club meetings, or project meetings.
If you’re a Junior or Senior, help train Novice or Cloverbud members.
Contact the County Extension Agent.
11/14/2018