General Method of Group Discussion

GROUP DISCUSSION – GENERAL METHOD

 General Method of  G.D: 

·        Normally a group limited to 8 to 10 members is seated comfortably around a table in a semi-circle. The group leader, if any, takes his place in the centre, facing all candidates.

·        They are assigned different serial Nos. viz. 1, 2, 3, etc. and are normally addressed as Mr. No. 1, 2, etc. and not by name.

·        They have to wear their number tags all the time so that the examiner may note down their points accordingly.

·        The examiner or the testing officer instructs them not to disclose their names, speak in any other language than in the one prescribed, mostly English, for the discussion but he does not decide who should speak first and how much time each candidate should take.

·        Sometimes the candidates are themselves allowed the freedom to choose the topic but generally they have to select out of 2 or 3 topics suggested by the examiner.

·        Generally the subjects for discussion are either light hearted ones like love marriages versus arranged marriages or serious ones like India’s Economic Policy or current ones like “war against terrorism, post September 11, 2001 attack on World Trade Centre and Pentagon.

·        Most often than not, the examiner retires to the back ground, so that the candidates may not see him and he assesses their personality and group behavior during the G.D. exercise.

A group discussion can be conducted by different methods which depend on the following two most important factors.

1.     If the level of intelligence of the group is comparatively low and the aim is teaching and learning, the discussion is held under the guidance of a group leader who selects a suitable subject in which the members of the group are interested. He seats the participants around him and announces the subject orally or writes on a blackboard. Discussion may be opened in the following ways:

·        If the subject is simple and familiar to the participants, the group leader puts questions on the subject to them and a discussion ensues.

·        If the subject is somewhat difficult or uncommon, the group leader gives a short introductory talk, explaining both sides of the question without being partisan, and he then asks the members to express their views thereon. A discussion thus follows: The group leader has to be an expert in this case and has to control the discussion.

2.     If the level of intelligence of the participants is high and the aim of discussion is to test the knowledge and power of verbal expression of the group, the person conducting the discussion announces the subject to the group, asks them to express their views , and he himself retreats to the background and watches the discussion. Here he does not perform the role of a leader.