Group Discussions with the 5 Cs

It can be difficult to keep group discussions fresh.  Here are my guidelines.

1. Be very clear about process, and very unclear about outcome – and keep it simple. By this, I mean:

• Give each group only one question per discussion round. Provide the question in writing.
• Make roles in the groups explicit before you start.
• Tell your groups how long you expect them to spend on discussion before they report back.
• If you expect groups to keep a written record of the discussion, tell them so.
• Provide large sheets of butcher’s paper and markers so that the discussion can be recorded.

2. Allocate roles to the group members before you start. (As the participants become more experienced, they will be able to allocate the roles themselves.) Hand out role cards. The Catalysts and Curmudgeons exchange their role cards after their turns in those roles are complete. I use the following roles and print the instructions about the role on the role card:

• Chair (1 only per group): The Chair’s role is to keep the group on task, using ‘active listening’ techniques. For example, “So you think that [repeating the words he/she has just heard]”. If the discussion involves more than one round, the Chair stays at the same table for all discussion rounds.
• Commentator (1 only per group): The Commentator’s role is to document the discussion and report back on key points. If the discussion involves more than one round, the Commentator stays at the same table for all discussion rounds, with the same Chair.
• Catalyst (1 only per group): The Catalyst stimulates discussion and debates in a provocative and positive manner. Any one person is only allowed to hold the role of Catalyst once a day. If the discussion involves more than one round, the Catalyst moves to a new group for second and subsequent rounds, and exchanges roles with a Conversationalist.
• Curmudgeon (1 only per group): The Curmudgeon is in the group to provide a sceptical perspective and to play Devil’s Advocate. Any one person is only allowed to hold the role of Curmudgeon once a day. If the discussion involves more than one round, the Curmudgeon moves to a new group for second and subsequent rounds, and exchanges roles with a Conversationalist.
• Conversationalist/s (up to 3 per group): The Conversationalists carry the discussion, although those holding other roles are also part of the conversation. Conversationalists are allowed to hold the role more than once a day. If the discussion involves more than one round, the Conversationalists move to a new group for each round. Some Conversationalists will take on the role of either Catalyst or Curmudgeon if there is more than one round.

3. Keep reporting back simple. Do have a reporting back session after each discussion round. Never let any group report exhaustively on every detail of their discussion round. You can use a couple of techniques for this.

• Ask the first group to report on the one most interesting thing that came up in their discussion round. Move on to the next group, and ask them to report on the one most interesting thing that came up in their discussion round. If the first group has already reported on that issue, they must choose something else to report. Each group gets to report one new thing until they have nothing new left to report.
• Follow the same guidelines, but stop after each group has reported one interesting thing.