Communication Skills (1+0)

15.1.1.Group discussion

            Whenever we face a new situation or a problem we say, all right, we’ll talk it over, we’ll discuss it and then decide.  This statement clearly shows that group discussion is a convenient outlet for the interchange of opinion and information. It is a simple way to sort out the things before we take and action. It becomes all the more useful if it is well planned and well thought of.

Discussion types of meetings

1. Group discussion

            Group discussion is a method by which two or more persons meet, express or convey their ideas, clarity and bring about a solution to the commonly felt problems by their own efforts.

 Objectives 

1. Democracy in action involves group functioning.
2. Systematic discussion among representative persons promotes the analysis of commonly felt needs.
3. We can solve many important problems or meet the needs only through group action.
4. Group discussion provides opportunity to the members of the group to exchange their experience or their points of view.
5.  It promotes the habit of group thinking, group planning, group action and expression.
6.  Most of the problems in many villages could be solved by group action which means that there should be organized group in the village with a group leader.  
7.  Organised group may not always be available in a village.  Lack of organized group by itself is a challenge for the extension worker.  The village group must be identified first that the public interest should be focused on a problem to mobilize the villagers to action.
8.  Group discussion is a miniature democracy giving equal rights, privileges and opportunities to every members to discussan issue.

Study Groups

            These are generally informal discussions among the class-fellows or the members of a guild, they exchange information, with an idea to learn something from others present.  Here the initial speech to introduce the problem is followed by the individual’s opinion or narration of his experience.  Sometimes a problem is discussed just to serve no practical ends and is not for implementation e.g. in literary society functions or in a symposium.