Unit-06

GROUP DISCUSSION & INTERVIEW TECHNIQUE

(DEVELOPMENT OF LIFE SKILLS-II –TW)

Ramun Prasad1
(Lecture No. 12)
Way to carryout group discussion:-

Recapitulate

Lecture Outcomes

After this session you will be able to:

- Initiate the Group Discussion with proper conducts.

- Describe several factors that affect group discussion.

Part-I Beginning the Discussion}

In life, there are times that you will be working in a group. You may have to lead a discussion as part of a
school assignment. In work, you may be responsible for leading a discussion during a meeting. An
effective group discussion will involve all participants, so make sure to incorporate everyone's opinion.
Encourage quiet participants to share, and write down information as you got. Introduce new topics as
they come up in order to direct the discussion towards some kind of conclusion.

1. Allow everyone to introduce themselves:

 To start a group discussion, you will want to make sure everyone is comfortable. A good way to break
the ice (ऩहर कयना) is to let everyone introduce themselves. This way, you will go into the discussion
with everyone knowing everyone else a little bit.
 You can go around the room and have everyone say their name. You may want each person to
explain why they are participating in the discussion.
2. Establish some ground rules
 Before launching into the discussion (चचाा भें आना), make sure everyone knows the rules of conduct
(व्मवहाय के ननमभ).
 Show interest that you want to go into the discussion with boundaries for respect firmly established.
 Advise everyone to treat one another with respect. Make it clear there should be no name-calling,
personal attacks, or profanity (अऩववत्र वचन / गालरमाॊ फकने की क्रिमा). You can argue with someone's idea or
opinion, but cannot argue with that person on a personal level.
 Make sure people know not to interrupt (सुननश्चचत कयें क्रक रोग फीच भें नह ॊ आना /फाधा डारना नह ॊ जानते हैं।).
 Remind everyone that the point of this discussion is equal for everyone to share the ideas.

1
Lecturer (Economics), Department of Humanity, Govt. Polytechnic, Gaya, Bihar
E-mail id: gpgcoe@[Link] My Homepage: [Link]
Link of YouTube Channel: [Link]
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  Remind everyone to be aware of time, and to make their points succinctly (सॊऺेऩ) so everyone has the
chance to share.

Encourage people to consider their comments seriously, and to avoid becoming defensive if someone
disagrees (रोगों को उनकी टिप्ऩणिमों ऩय गॊबीयता से ववचाय कयने के लरए प्रोत्साटहत कयें , औय मटद कोई असहभत हो तो यऺात्भक फनने
से फचें ।).

3. Explain the topic:-

 Usually, a group discussion will be based around a central topic. Even if the participants know what
that topic is, give them a quick refresher before the discussion begins.
 You can introduce the topic by asking questions. For example, say something like, "Why are we all
here?" This can be helpful if you are managing a conflict, or making plans for an event that are
uncertain (आऩ प्रचन ऩूछकय ववषम का ऩरयचम दे सकते हैं। उदाहयि के लरए, कुछ ऐसा कहें , "हभ सफ महाॉ क्मों हैं?" मह भददगाय हो
सकता है मटद आऩ क्रकसी सॊघषा का प्रफॊधन कय यहे हों, मा क्रकसी ऐसी घिना की मोजना फना यहे हों जो अननश्चचत हो।).
 You can also quickly introduce the idea. Say something like, "As you know, today in class we are
going to discuss on the control of COVID-19."
4. Ask open-ended questions to begin:-
 You do not want to ask questions with a simple "yes" or "no" answer, especially not initially. Opening
questions should not have a right or wrong answer, as this will not push people to begin the
discussion.
 Your questions should encourage people to share meaningful thoughts and ideas. Questions can be
confusing to the participants. Many participants may not know the answers right away themselves,
encouraging them to think during discussion.
 For example, "What is it about our culture that contributes to gun violence? What are ways we can
reduce the problem of COVID-19?" These questions are complicated, and have many potential
answers.

Part – II: Facilitating an Open Conversation

1. Push towards new ideas when necessary:-

You can help to move the discussion forward by introducing new ideas. If one party hits on an important
point, you can interject to try to pick apart that idea more. (आऩ नए ववचायों को ऩेश कयके चचाा को आगे फढाने भें भदद
कय सकते हैं। मटद कोई ऩािी एक भहत्वऩूिा िंफॊदु ऩय टहि कयती है , तो आऩ उस ववचाय को अरग कयने की कोलशश कयने के लरए हस्तऺेऩ
कय सकते हैं।)

You want to make sure the discussion does not stay too long on one topic, so if you are lingering on one
talking point (एक फात ऩय अडे यहना), see what new ideas are being generated. When you hear a new potential
idea, you can encourage the group to discuss this. (आऩ मह सुननश्चचत कयना चाहते हैं क्रक चचाा एक ववषम ऩय फहुत रॊफे
सभम तक नह ॊ यहती है , इसलरए मटद आऩ एक फात कय यहे हैं, तो दे खें क्रक क्मा नए ववचाय उत्ऩन्न हो यहे हैं। जफ आऩ एक नमा सॊबाववत
ववचाय सुनते हैं, तो आऩ सभूह को इस ऩय चचाा कयने के लरए प्रोत्साटहत कय सकते हैं।)

2. Ask participants follow-up questions (or thought provoking questions)

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 At first, people may give surface level answers to questions. If this is a problem, encourage people to
open up more. After someone shares, ask a follow up (सहामता कयना /अनुवती प्रचन) question to encourage
them to pick apart their opinion.

Follow up questions should usually be vague (अस्ऩष्ि /अननश्चचत). For example, you can say something like,
"Really (वास्तव भें ?)? What makes you think that (आऩको क्मा रगता है ?)?" You can also say, "How do you feel
about that fact? (आऩ उस तथ्म के फाये भें कैसा भहसूस कयते हैं?)"

3. Encourage everyone to participate

Group discussions work well if everyone shares. Some participants may be hesitant to open up (खुरने भें
सॊकोच), so work on creating an environment where everyone feels comfortable to share his/her ideas.

Breaking up into small groups for a moment can encourage more participation. You can tell the group to
discuss the issue with the person next to them for 5 minutes. Then, you can re-assemble and ask
everyone to share the discussions they had (एक ऩर के लरए छोिे सभूहों भें िूिने से अधधक बागीदाय को प्रोत्साटहत क्रकमा
जा सकता है । आऩ सभूह को 5 लभनि के लरए उनके फगर वारे व्मश्क्त के साथ चचाा कयने के लरए कह सकते हैं। क्रपय , आऩ क्रपय से इकट्ठा
हो सकते हैं औय सबी से उनके द्वाया की गई चचााओॊ को साझा कयने के लरए कह सकते हैं। ).

You should also make it clear that everyone's opinion matters. Write everyone's comment on a white
board. Encourage students to build on other people's comments. If a participant made a good point a
while ago, but has been silent for a bit, return to his or her point to move the discussion forward. (आऩको मह
बी स्ऩष्ि कयना चाटहए क्रक सबी की याम भामने यखती है । सपेद फोडा ऩय सबी की टिप्ऩिी लरखें। छात्रों को अन्म रोगों की टिप्ऩणिमों ऩय
ननभााि कयने के लरए प्रोत्साटहत कयें । मटद एक प्रनतबागी ने कुछ सभम ऩहरे एक अच्छा िंफॊदु फनामा है , रेक्रकन थोडी दे य के लरए चुऩ हो
गमा है, तो चचाा को आगे फढाने के लरए अऩने िंफॊदु ऩय रौिें ।)

4. Move the discussion forward as needed

Usually, you will have some kind of agenda for a group discussion. You want participants to reach some
kind of conclusion, agreement, or insight. As the discussion continues, work to move it towards a
conclusion.( आभतौय ऩय, सभह
ू चचाा के लरए आऩके ऩास क्रकसी प्रकाय का एजेंडा होगा। आऩ चाहते हैं क्रक
प्रनतबागी क्रकसी तयह के ननष्कषा, सभझौते, मा अॊतर्दाश्ष्ि तक ऩहुॊचें। जैसा क्रक चचाा जाय है , इसे ननष्कषा की ओय रे
जाने के लरए काभ कयें ।)

Keep asking questions throughout the discussion. In addition to asking question with participants, it is
better to ask questions of the group that complicate the issue.

5. Wrap up the discussion:-

You should review the discussion briefly when it reaches its end. What has everyone learned? Have you
reached any conclusions? (जफ आऩ इसके अॊत तक ऩहुॉचते हैं, तो आऩको चचाा की सॊक्षऺप्त सभीऺा कयनी चाटहए। सबी ने क्मा
सीखा है ? क्मा आऩ क्रकसी ननष्कषा ऩय ऩहुॉचे हैं?)

Make sure everyone understands the key points made. You can say something like, "I am hearing half of
you feel that we have the right to own guns for protection, while half of you feel there should be heavier
restrictions."
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 You do same on the COVID-19.

Part-III: Handling Problems

1. Avoid letting one person or group of people dominate

Often times, you get a mixed group. Some people are shy and withdrawn, while others are not. The more
outgoing members can sometimes dominate a discussion, and you want to make sure everyone gets a
chance to share (अक्सय फाय, आऩको एक लभधित सभूह लभरता है । कुछ रोग शभीरे औय ऩीछे हिने वारे होते हैं, जफक्रक अन्म नह ॊ
होते। अधधक ननवताभान सदस्म कबी-कबी चचाा ऩय हावी हो सकते हैं, औय आऩ मह सुननश्चचत कयना चाहते हैं क्रक सबी को साझा कयने का
भौका लभरे।)

If one group has been bringing up the same point for a while, try to cut it off in a respectful manner. For
example, "I think those issues are important, but I want to make sure we give time to other factors
surrounding this debate." (मटद एक सभूह एक ह िंफॊदु को कुछ सभम के लरए रा यहा है, तो उसे सम्भानजनक तय के से कािने का
प्रमास कयें । उदाहयि के लरए, "भुझे रगता है क्रक वे भुद्दे भहत्वऩूिा हैं, रेक्रकन भैं मह सुननश्चचत कयना चाहता हूॊ क्रक हभ इस फहस के
आसऩास के अन्म कायकों को सभम दें ।")

Try to bring the discussion back to the shy people. For example, "Laxmi made up an interesting point
earlier. Maybe we could revisit that." (शभीरे रोगों को चचाा भें वाऩस राने की कोलशश कयें । उदाहयि के लरए, "रक्ष्भी ने ऩहरे
एक टदरचस्ऩ िंफॊदु फनामा था। हो सकता है क्रक हभ क्रपय से ववचाय कयें ।")

2. Deal with a participant who talks too much.

Sometimes, it is a single person who is very assertive (फहुत भख ु य/दफॊग) and tends to dominate the
conversation. Even if this person is making good points, it is important you not let a single person
dominate (कबी-कबी, मह एक ऐसा व्मश्क्त होता है जो फहुत भुखय होता है औय फातचीत ऩय हावी हो जाता है । बरे ह मह व्मश्क्त अच्छे
अॊक फना यहा हो, रेक्रकन मह भहत्वऩूिा है क्रक आऩ क्रकसी एक व्मश्क्त को हावी न होने दें ।)

Try asking the talkative person to act as an observer for a few minutes. For example, "Rakesh, you seem
to have strong opinions. Why don't you just observe for a few minutes? Take notes on the discussion. You
can share these later, and we can see how the discussion shaped your opinions." (फातूनी व्मश्क्त से कुछ लभनिों
के लरए ऩमावेऺक के रूऩ भें कामा कयने का प्रमास कयें । उदाहयि के लरए, " याकेश, आऩ भजफूत याम यखते हैं। आऩ केवर कुछ लभनिों तक
क्मों नह ॊ दे खते हैं। चचाा ऩय ध्मान दें । आऩ इन्हें फाद भें साझा कय सकते हैं , औय हभ दे ख सकते हैं क्रक चचाा ने आऩकी याम को कैसे आकाय
टदमा।")

3. Smooth over conflict

If you are dealing with a sensitive subject especially, people may get angry. If a conversation starts to
become confrontational (िकयाव) or tense, find ways to break up the tension (मटद आऩ ववशेष रूऩ से एक सॊवेदनशीर
ववषम के साथ काभ कय यहे हैं, तो रोग नायाज हो सकते हैं। मटद कोई फातचीत िकयाव मा तनावऩि
ू ा होने रगती है , तो तनाव को तोडने के
तय के खोजें।).

Ask people arguing to back up their opinions using outside authority. This will cause the discussion to
become more objective and less personal. (फाहय प्राधधकाय का उऩमोग कयके अऩनी याम का सभथान कयने वारे रोगों से ऩूछें।
इससे चचाा अधधक उद्दे चमऩूिा औय कभ व्मश्क्तगत हो जाएगी।)
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 Ask people to be aware of differences in values. Say something like, "I feel like the two of you share
different values. Can we talk about that?" (भूल्मों भें अॊतय के फाये भें रोगों को जागरूक होने के लरए कहें । कुछ ऐसा कहें , "भुझे
रगता है क्रक आऩ दोनों अरग-अरग भूल्म साझा कयते हैं। क्मा हभ इस फाये भें फात कय सकते हैं?")

Encourage participants to continue to debate the point, but in a respectful manner. Say something like, "I
think we should talk about this, as we all feel strongly, but let's take turns examining each other's points
respectfully." (प्रनतबाधगमों को िंफॊदु ऩय फहस जाय यखने के लरए प्रोत्साटहत कयें , रेक्रकन सम्भानजनक तय के से। कुछ ऐसा कहें , "भुझे
रगता है क्रक हभें इस फाये भें फात कयनी चाटहए, जैसा क्रक हभ सबी र्दढता से भहसूस कयते हैं, रेक्रकन चरो एक-दस
ू ये के र्दश्ष्िकोिों की जाॊच
कयते हैं।")

4. Help shy participants to share their opinions

Sometimes, the smartest participants are the most shy. You want to make sure those who feel
uncomfortable sharing do so (shy). It is important to hear everyone's thoughts. (कबी-कबी, सफसे चतुय प्रनतबागी
सफसे शभीरे होते हैं। आऩ मह सुननश्चचत कयना चाहते हैं क्रक जो रोग साझा कयने भें असहज भहसूस कयते हैं वे ऐसा कयते हैं। हय क्रकसी के
ववचायों को सुनना भहत्वऩूिा है ।)

You can ask the shy participant directly. For example, "Mansi, why don't you tell us how you feel?" (आऩ
शभीरे प्रनतबागी से सीधे ऩूछ सकते हैं। उदाहयि के लरए, "भानसी, आऩ हभें मह नह ॊ फतातीॊ क्रक आऩ कैसा भहसूस कयती हो?")

References

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[Link]

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