Chapter Seven: Preparing
for Group Discussion
OBJECTIVES:
1. Develop a plan for preparing for group discussion.
2. Formulate a question of fact, value, or policy for
group discussion.
3. Identify three criteria for a well-phrased policy discussion
question.
4. Identify appropriate methods for researching group discussion
questions.
5. Use appropriate logic and reasoning to develop sound
conclusions.
6. Identify appropriate ways to use facts, examples, opinons,
and statistics in group discussions.
7. Avoid reasoning fallacies by critically analyzing the
reasoning and evidence presented in group discussions.
8. Identify the characteristics of an ethical group communicator.
Be Prepared! To achieve a quality
decision, a group needs quality information gleaned
from research as well as effective
reasoning and critical thinking skills. Group discussion allows
individuals to seek answers to tough
questions. Discussions will be more productive if group members
have appropriately prepared and
if they know how to critically evalute information used to reach
reasoned conclusions.
I. Developing a Discussion
Plan (see Review Box, p. 174)
A. Getting to Know Group Members
and Understand the Group Task.
1.
Exchange contact information
2.
Build in success by clarifying the group's pupose, goal, and specific assignments
B. Develop a Plan for Gathering Information
and Analyzing Issues.
1.
Determine what is already known about the topic by group members
2.
Coordinate your group's efforts to conduct research
a. www.google.com
b. www.kcvl.org
c. EBSCO host
d. OCLC First Search
C. Follow a Structured Plan to Accomplish
the Task.
a. Define the Problem
b. Analyze the Problem
c. Identify Criteria (standards for an acceptable solution)
d. Generate Possible Solutions
e. Evaluate Solutions
f. Maintain task focus by following this structure
D. Use Critical Thinking and Analysis Skills.
E. Develop and Follow a Plan to
Present Your Information (see Review Box, p. 367)
a. Panel Discussions - used to inform
an audience about a specific issue or problem (most common)
b. Symposium Presentations - consists
of a series of short speeches unified by a central theme or issue
c. Forum Presentations - permits an
audience to get involved in the discussion. Questions and responses
give featured speakers an opportunity to clarify and elaborate viewpoints.
Review the APPENDIX
(Communicating in Small Groups to an Audience) pp. 365 - 372
II. Formulating
Discussion Questions (hypotheses and research
questions provide direction)
A. Questions of Fact
- did something happen or not happen...what
is true and what is false
B. Questions of Value
- concerns attitudes, beliefs, and values
about what is good or bad or right or wrong
(Rokeach's Onion - p. 177)
C. Questions of Policy
- determines what course of action or policy
change is necessary
(see Review Box on page 179)
III. Using
Electronic Resources and the Library
A. Computer Assisted Electronic Indexes
B. Information Triage - the process
of sorting and prioritizing information (helps deal with info overload)
C. Developing a Survey to clarify
the seriousness of a problem or its probablye causes, effects, and symptoms
IV. Using
Logic and Reasoning (Three major ways of structuring
an argument to reach a logical conclusion)
A. Inductive Reasoning - specific
to general (bottom-line conclusions)
B. Deductive Reasoning - general
statements to specific conclusions
1.
Syllogism (major premise, minor premise, conclusion)
2.
All men are mortal, Socrates is a man, therefore...Socrates is mortal.
C. Causal Reasoning - relating
two or more events and concluding that one event caused the other
V.
Using Evidence in Group Discussion (Four Kinds
of Evidence Available)
A. Facts - statements proven to be
true
B. Examples - an illustration of
a particular case or incident
C. Opinions - a quoted comment
D. Statistics - a
summary of a distribution of scores (simply a number)
VI.
Using Critical Analysis Skills: Avoiding Reasoning Fallacies
A.
Key Technical Skills
a. Discovery - seek and find relevant information
b. Organization - categorize and structure information
c. Analysis - break information down into pieces and intrepret the
information
d. Synthesis - combine information - see new patterns
e. Clarification - focus on important issues; differentiate between
key and secondary information
B. Reasoning
Fallacies (false reasoning which occurs because
of inadequate evidence)
a. Causal Fallacy - POST HOC ERGO PROPTER HOC (after this, therefore
because of this)
b. Either-Or
1. Only two approaches to a problem
2. FALSE DICHOTOMY - tendency to view the world in terms of opposites
a) Be suspiscious of absolutes
b) Employ the language of clarification
c. Bandwagon Fallacy - EVERYBODY is in favor of the proposition
d. Hasty Generalization - reaching a conclusion with too little information
(INFORMATION UNDERLOAD)
e. Attacking the Person - AD HOMINEM - attacking irrelevant personal
characteristics instead of ideas
f. Red Herring - diversion or distraction from real issues
VII.
Becoming an Ethical Group Communicator
A. Ethics are the beliefs, values, and
moral principles by which we determine what is right or wrong.
B. Ethical Guidelines
1.
Use sound evidence and reasoning
2.
Give credit to your sources
3.
Be sensitive to and tolerant of others (BE A COMPETENT COMMUNICATOR)
4.
Be honest
5.
Do your own work
6.
Support an atmosphere of free choice
7.
Be an ethical listener
8.
Follow through on commitments
9.
When you disagree with others, separate the person from the problem
10. Support your
group and group members
11. Be true to
your ethical principles
VIII. Putting
Principle into Practice
A. Develop a Discussion Plan
B. Formulate
Discussion Questions
C. Using Electronic
Research Resources
D. Test Your
Logic and Reasoning
E. Test the
Quality of the Evidence You Use
F. Use Critical
Thinking and Analysis Skills to Evaluate Reasoning
G. Be an Ethical
Group Communicator
Review
the DISCUSSION PREPARATION CHECKLIST on pages 195 - 196! |