AIM OF THE BOOKLET

• PROVIDE AN INTRODUCTION GROUP DISCUSSION WHICH MAY BE USEFUL IN LEADERSHIP SEMINARS,

SOCIAL ORDER CLUBS, STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS, BUSINESS TRAINING COURSES, GROUP GUIDANCE
CLASSES, BARRIO COUNCILS, ETC.
CONTENT
• CHAPTER 1: THE ESSENTIALS OF GROUP DISCUSSION
• CHAPTER 2: EXTERNAL ARRANGEMENTS
• CHAPTER 3: DISCUSSION FORMAT: THE QUESTION
• CHAPTER 4: THE DISCUSSION FORMAT: THE DISCUSSION PROPER
• CHAPTER 5: THE ROLE OF THE LEADER
• CHAPTER 6: THE ROLE OF THE MEMBERS
• CHAPTER 7: SPECIAL TECHNIQUES
• CHAPTER 8: THE PSYCHOLOGICAL THEORY OF GROUP DISCUSSION
 CHAPTER 1
GOALS WHY HUMANS BAND TOGETHER:

• TO UNDERSTAND BETTER THE WORLD IN WHICH ONE LIVES, ESPECIALLY THE PEOPLE IN IT , ONE’S
RELATION WITH THEM, AND ONESELF;
• TO PLAN A COURSE OF ACTION FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEMS THAT ONE ENCOUNTERS;
• TO ACT TOGETHER UPON THIS PLAN, TO LEAVE THIS WORLD BETTER THAN THEY FOUND IT.˜
WHAT IS GROUP DISCUSSION ?

• GROUP DISCUSSION MAYBE DEFINED AS COOPERATIVE THINKING. THERE ARE TWO ELEMENTS IN THIS
DEFINITION: (1) THINKING, (2) IN COOPERATION WITH OTHERS
• THINKING MEANS LOOKING HARD AT SOMETHING WITH YOUR MIND AND ASKING YOURSELF QUESTIONS
ABOUT IT.
• COOPERATIVE THINKING MEANS AN EXCHANGE OF VIEWS, PUTTING TOGETHER OF TWO DIFFERENT SETS
OF EXPERIENCES IN ATTEMPT TO PUSH THROUGH FURTHER INTO REALITY.
FUNDAMENTAL ATTITUDE

•THE KEY ATTITUDE IN GROUP DISCUSSION IS “RESPECT”.

THREE COMMANDMENTS
• 1. THOU SHALT HEAR THE SPEAKER WITH THY WHOLE HEART WITH THY WHOLE SOUL, WITH THY WHOLE
MIND, AND WITH THY WHOLE STRENGTH.
• 2. THOU SHALT SPEAK OUT THY WHOLE MIND, WITH THY WHOLE HEART, WITH THY WHOLE SOUL, AND
WITH THY WHOLE STRENGTH.
• 3. THOU SHALT NOT WHISPER TO THY NEIGHBOR.
COMMUNICATION

• COMMUNICATION MEANS OPENING OF A PERSON’S REAL SELF TO ANOTHER.

• COMMUNICATION IS A TWO-WAY PROCESS.
CHAPTER 2
EXTERNAL ARRANGEMENTS

ATMOSPHERE
• TO CREATE A SITUATION WHICH WILL BE MOST FAVORABLE FOR INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION.
• THE PREVAILING ATMOSPHERE SHOULD BE AN INFORMAL ONE. ALLOWING FOR AN MAXIMUM OF
SPONTANEITY AND FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION.
• THERE SHOULD BE ROOM FOR A MAXIMUM DEGREE OF INTERPERSONAL INTERACTION.
NUMBER OF MEMBERS IN A GROUP

• MAXIMUM INTERACTION IS IS WHEN A GROUP IS LIMITED TO SIX OR EIGHT MEMBERS, WITH POSSIBLY
TEN AS AN OUTSIDE LIMIT.
• ONCE A GROUP GROWS BEYOND THAT NUMBER, IT SHOULD BE DIVIDED INTO TWO SUBGROUPS, AND IT IS
THEN BETTER TO FORM A NEW GROUP.
SITTING ARRANGEMENT
• THE SEATS SHOULD BE SO ARRANGED THAT EVERY MEMBER SEES EVERYONE ELSE’S FACE. THE BEST IS IS
USUALLY IS IN THE FORM OF A CIRCLE.

DISCUSSION LEADER

FIG. 1. MEMBERS SHOULD FACE EACH OTHER IN A

CIRCLE
• A CLASSROOM OR HALL WHICH HAS BEEN SET UP IN A TRADITIONAL CLASSROOM MANNER MAY READILY
BE TRANSFORMED INTO A FORM SUITABLE FOR GROUP DISCUSSION BY THE FOLLOWING TECHNIQUE.
TEACHERS
DESK

1
2

3
4

5
6

FIG. 2. BREAK UP A LARGE GROUP INTO SMALL GROUPS BY HAVING ODD

ARROWS FACE THE EVEN ARROWS.
LENGTH OF DISCUSSION

• WITHIN IN SMALLL GROUP, A GOOD DISCUSSION ON ONE PROBLEM USUALLY NEEDS A MINIMUM OF
FORTY-FIVE MINUTES, MOST DISCUSSION TAKING A LITTLE OVER AN HOUR.
• OTHERS, ESPECIALLY THOSE INVOLVING VARIOUS SUBTOPICS, MAY GO MUCH LONGER. IT USUALLY BEST
TO SET TWO HOURS AS AN OUTSIDE LIMIT FOR ANY DISCUSSION.
INTRODUCING THE DISCUSSION
TECHNIQUE ITSELF
• THE FREE DISCUSSION TECHNIQUE SHOULD HAVE SOMEONE EXPLAIN TO THE MEMBERS THE
FUNDAMENTALS OF A GROUP DISCUSSION, ESPECIALLY THE FACT THAT THE DISCUSSION’S SUCCESS
DEPENDS UPON THE MEMBERS’ CONTIBUTIONS.
• A MINIMUM AMOUNT OF INTRUCTION SHOULD BE GIVEN, SINCE MORE WOULD GIVE THE IMPRESSION
THAT DISCUSSION IS A HIGHLY TECHNICAL AND COMPLICATED PROCESS.
• THE MATERIAL INCLUDED IN CHAPTER 1 AND PEOPLE IS SUFFICIENT TO START DISCUSSING AFTER
RECEIVING SUCH INTRUCTIONS.
CHAPTER 3
DISCUSSION FORMAT: THE QUESTION
THE TYPICAL FORMAT OF A QUESTION
A TYPICAL DISCUSSION GOES THROUGH THE FOLLOWING STEPS:
1. THE QUESTION IS PROPOSED, USUALLY BY THE CHAIRPERSON;
2. THE QUESTION IS CLARIFIED, SHARPENED AND FINALLY AGREED UPON BY THE GROUP;
3. TENTATIVE ANSWER ARE GIVEN;
4. ONE ANSWER GRADUALLY PREVAILS, USUALLY AFTER MODIFICATION AND IMPROVEMENT OF THE GROUP;
5. CONSENSUS IS REACHED. A SUMMARY IS MADE WHICH IS GIVEN THE GROUP’S APPROVAL.
TYPE OF QUESTIONS SUITABLE FOR
DISCUSSION

• THE MOST SUITABLE QUESTIONS ARE THOSE WHOSE ANSWERS LIE WITHIN THE MEMBERS’ EXPERIENCE,
THOSE INVOLVING A WEIGHING OF FACTS WHICH ARE EASILY SUPPLIED BY THE MEMBERS THEMSELVES.
• THE BEST QUESTIONS MOST INTIMATELY CONCERN THE PARTICULAR GROUP.
• THE QUESTIONS WILL NATURALLY BE DICTATED BY THE NATURE AND PURPOSE OF THE GROUP.
PHRASING THE QUESTION

1. THE STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM SHOULD ENCOURAGE FREEDOM OF THOUGHT.

2. THE STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM SHOULD BE SUCH AS TO BRING ABOUT INTERACTION AND EVEN CLASH
OF OPINIONS.
3. THE STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM SHOULD BE BRIEF.
AGREEING UPON THE QUESTION

• IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE QUESTION BE PROPERLY UNDERSTOOD AND AGREED UPON BY THE GROUP
BEFORE DISCUSSION STARTS. THE CHAIRPERSON EITHER GIVES THE NEEDED CLARIFICATION, OR MORE
ADROITLY, REFERS THE QUESTION BACK TO THE GROUP AND ALLOWS THE GROUP TO FORM ITS OWN
UNDERSTANDING OF THE QUESTION.
CHAPTER 4
THE DISCUSSION FORMAT: THE
DISCUSSION PROPER
SPEAKING PROCEDURE
• THE POSING OF THE QUESTION AND ITS AGREEMENT STARTS THE DISCUSSION PROPER. USUALLY THEN A
HAND IS RAISED SEEKING RECOGNITION FROM THE CHAIRPERSON. LATER ON IN THE SESSION AND IN THE
FOLLOWING SESSIONS, HANDS ARE RAISED LESS AND LESS OFTEN, AND INSTEAD, MEMBERS SPEAK OUT
SPONTANEOUSLY. THE CHAIRPERSON SEES TO IT THAT ONLY ONE PERSON IS SPEAKING AT A TIME.
INTERACTION
1. LEADER-CENTERED. 2. GROUP-CENTERED

Fig. 3. LINES OF INTERACTION

DIFFER WITHIN A GROUP
THE TYPICAL CONTRIBUTION
• A GOOD MEMBER MAKES SURE THAT HE OR SHE HAS BEEN LISTENING TO THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER.
• A GOOD MEMBER BUILDS UPON WHAT THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER HAVE SAID.
• A GOOD MEMBER MAKES SURE THAT EVERYONE HAS HEARD AND IF POSSIBLE, UNDERSTOOD HIS OR HER
OWN REMARKS.
• A GOOD SPEAKER DOES THE SAME THING, HE OR SHE IS SENSITIVE TO “FEEDBACK” BECAUSE IT TELLS HIM
OR HER WHEN TO EXPLAIN FURTHER.
THE RUNNING SUMMARY

• A VERY USEFUL TOOL IN THE MIDDLE PART OF THE DISCUSSION IS THE RUNNING SUMMARY. A SPEAKER
MAY USE IT, SUMMARIZING AN OPPOSING VIEW BEFORE ANSWERING IT. LIKEWISE, WHERE THE TWO
MEMBERS HAVE BEEN ARGUING VIGOROUSLY FOR SEVERAL MINUTES, A THIRD PERSON OR THE
CHAIRPERSON CAN CLEAR THE AIR BY IMPARTIALLY SUMMARIZING BOTH SIDES OF THE POINT AT ISSUE.
THE RUNNING SUMMARY PREVENTS THE GROUP FROM WANDERING TOO FAR AFIELD.
CONSENSUS AND FINAL SUMMARY

• IT IS THE CHAIRPERSON’S TASK TO DETERMINE EXACTLY WHEN TO SUMMARIZE WHAT THE GROUP HAS
AGREED UPON, PUTTING CONSENSUS INTO WORDS, SEEKING HELP WHEN NECESSARY FROM THE
MEMBERS.
• THE FINAL SUMMARY IS THE EXPRESSION OF THE GROUP SOLUTION TO THE ORIGINAL QUESTION.
CHAPTER 5
THE ROLE OF THE LEADER
THE NEUTRAL ROLE: NOT TO TAKE SIDES
• THE DISCUSSION LEADER ASKS THE QUESTION, BUT DOES NOT GIVE THE ANSWER. HE OR SHE MUST
REALLY AND SINCERELY TRUST THE GROUP TO FIND THE ANSWER.
• THE ONE EXCEPTION TO THID RULE IS IN CASE THE CHAIRPERSON HAS INFORMATION OF FACTS THAT NO
ONE ELSE HAS.
• ACCORDINGLY, HE OR SHE DOES NOT TAKE SIDES IN ANY CONTROVERSY.
• HE OR SHE REFRAINS FROM PRAISING OR CONDEMNING CONTRIBUTIONS OFFERED BY THE MEMBER.
• HE OR SHE MAY SUMMARIZE THEM, AND THROW THEM BACK TO THE GROUP FOR THEIR JUDGEMENT, BUT
DOES NOT JUDGE.
THE POSITIVE TASK: ORDERLY INTERACTION
• ORDERLY INTERACTION MEANS DISCUSSION WHICH IS GOAL-DIRECTED AND WHICH DOES NOT GO AROUND IN CIRCLES.
• HE OR SHE GUIDES TRAFFIC IN THE SENSE OF ENCOURAGING TRAFFIC FLOW, BUT NOT IN THE SENSE OF TELLING NA INDIVIDUAL.
HENCE, HE OR SHE PRESENTS THE QUESTION, THEN SEES TO IT THAT THE GROUP CONSTANLY FACES UP TO THE QUESTION.
• HE OR SHE MAY ALLOW A LITTLE SIDE-EXCURSION NOW AND THEN, BUT IS ALWAYS CAREFUL TO BRING THE GROUP BACK TO THE
PROBLEM AT HAND.
• HE OR SHE ENCOURAGES THE SHY ONES.
• HE OR SHE GENTLY PREVENTS THE THE TALKATIVEONES FROM MONOPOLIZING THE CONVERSATION.
• HE OR SHE ALWAYS CLEARLY REMAIN SILENT, NONETHELESS REMAIN IN CONTROL AND MAKES SURE THAT THE GROUP KEEPS
MOVING FORWARD TOWARDS THE GOAL.
THE MAIN INSTRUMENT: UNDERSTANDING
• THE CHAIRPERSON SHOULD BE SENSITIVE TO WHAT EACH MEMBER WANTS TO SAY.
• HE OR SHE SUMMARIZES WHAT HAS SAID. HE OR SHE HAS TO REPEAT IN A LOUDER VOICE SOME REMARKS
THAT SHY MEMBER HAS MADE, BUT WHICH FAILED TO BE HEARD BY THE CROWD.
• ENCOURAGES MEMBERS TO SPEAK.
• HE OR SHE KEEPS HIS HAND ON THE GROUP’S PULSE.
• HE OR SHE SENSES THAT THE GROUP HAS REACHED CONSENSUS.
• HE OR SHE IS THE GROUP MOUTH.
GETTING OTHERS TO SPEAK
• A REAL PROBLEM, ESPECIALLY WITH YOUNGER GROUPS OR WITH GROUPS FROM THE PROVINCES, IS THE
DIFFICULTY OF GETTING PEOPLE TO SPEAK OUT IN A GROUP. SOME PEOPLE PREFER TO PLAY IT SAFE AND
NOT SAY ANY WORD. A CHAIRPERSON SHOULD BE SENSITIVE TO THE REASON FOR THE SILENCE. QUITE
OFTEN PROBLEM IS ONE OF LANGUAGE.
• THE TECHNIQUE OF GOING AROUND THE CIRCLE, HAVING EVERYONE IN TURN MAKE AN INITIAL
STATEMENT OF HIS OR HER STAND ON THE QUESTION IS RARELY PROFITABLE.
OTHER TASKS

• HE OR SHE SHOULD BE FREED FROM SUCH AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. THUS, EXTERNAL ARRANGEMENTS OF
ROOMS, MICROPHONES, CHAIRS, ETC., SHOULD BE DELEGATED TO ONE OF THE MEMBERS.
• FOR THE FINAL SUMMARY HE OR SHE CAN ASK FROM THE RECORDER OR FROM THE MEMBERS.
CHAPTER 6
THE ROLE OF THE MEMBERS
A SHARE IN LEADERSHIP
• IT IS THE MEMBERS WHO DO THE THINKING, THE LEADER MERELY COORDINATES THEIR THINKING.
• IT IS THE MEMBER WHO MAKES THE FINAL DECISION, THE LEADER MERELY ACTS AS THEIR VOICE.
• MEMBERS THINK, PLAN, AND ANIMATE.

THREE CLASSIFICATION OF MEMBERS

1. GROUP-BUILDING ROLES
2. TASK-ORIENTED ROLES
3. INDIVIDUALISTIC ROLES
MAIN ROLES PLAYED BY THE MEMBERS
GROUP-BUILDING ROLES
• ENCOURAGER, PEACE-MAKER, AND EFFICIENT EXPERT.

TASK-ORIENTED ROLES
• ASKER FOR QUESTIONS, INFORMATION-GIVER, OPINION-GIVER, FISCALIZER, ELABORATOR, ORIENTER,
HARMONIZER, AND ENERGIZER.

INDIVIDUALISTIC ROLES
• RECOGNITION-SEEKER, DISAGREER, AGGRESSOR, DOMINATOR, AND PASSIVE LISTENER.
PARTICIPATION LEADERSHIP

• THE MEMBERS SHOULD ALL AT TIMES REMEMBER THAT THEY ARE PART OF A DEMOCRATIC GROUP AND
THAT ACCORDINGLY THEY SHARE IN THE GROUP’S LEADERSHIP. THUS, WHEN THE CHAIRPERSON FAILS IN
HIS OR HER DUTY TO KEEP THE GROUP MOVING FORWARD IN THE SOLUTION OF THE PROBLEM, THE
MEMBERS MAY, AND SHOULD, TAKE THE INITIATIVE TO GET THE GROUP BACK TO ITS TASK.
THE RESOURCE PERSON

• SUCH A RESOURCE PERSON MUST BE AWARE THAT HIS OR HER ROLE IS MERELY TO APPLY THE MISSING
INFORMATION.
• HE OR SHE MUST BE CAREFUL NOT TO TAKE OVER THE DISCUSSION BUT MUST ACT SOMEWHAT LIKE AN
ENCYCLOPEDIA, WAITING ON THE SHELF TILL CONSULTED FOR A DEFINITE BIT OF INFORMATION.
CHAPTER 7
SPECIAL TECHNIQUES

HANDLING LARGE GROUPS : THE WORKSHOP METHOD

• WHERE SEVERAL SMALL GROUPS ARE DISCUSSING A QUESTION AT THE SAME TIME, A WAY HAS TO BE
FOUND FOR INCORPORATING THEIR RESULTS INTO A COMMON SOLUTION.
• SUCH SUMMARIES SHOULD BE VERY BRIEF, GIVING ONLY THE FINAL RESULTS AND NOT THE VARIOUS
WAYS BY WHICH THEY WERE REACHED, UNLESS SOMETHING INTERESTING CAN BE LEARNED FROM THEM.
A VARIATION OF THE WORKSHOPS : THE
SENATE METHOD

• A VARIATION OF THE USUAL WORKSHOP APPROACH IS THE SENATE METHOD, IN WHICH EVERYTHING IS
THE SAME WITHIN THE SMALL GROUP EXCEPT THAT EACH GROUP CHOOSE A “SENATOR “, WHOSE TALK IS
TO REPRESENT THE GROUP’S MIND IN A FURTHER DISCUSSION IN THE “SENATE”.
ROLE PLAYING

• ROLE PLAYING IS AN INTERESTING SIDE TECHNIQUE EITHER TO GET DISCUSSION STARTED OR TO SOLVE A
PROBLEM MET WITHIN THE DISCUSSION.
• THE “WARMING-UP” PROCESS CONSIST IN TAKING THE ROLE PLAYERS ONE BY ONE AND AGREEING WITH
THEM UPON THE ROLE THEY ARE TO PLAY, THEIR NAME, THEIR CHARACTER, THEIR PREVIOUS ESCAPADES,
ETC.
POSTING PROBLEMS

• THE PROBLEM THEN BECOMES TO FIND THE PARTICULAR PROBLEMS WHICH BESET THIS GROUP AND
WHICH THEY WILL BE INTERESTED IN DISCUSSING.
• WHEN POSTING A PROBLEMS, LEADER MUST ANSWER THE QUESTION: “WHAT IS THE MAIN PROBLEM
BESETTING THE ORGANIZATION?”
INTRODUCING AND FORMING SMALL
GROUPS FROM A LARGE GROUP
SOME USEFUL AND PLEASANT INTRODUCTION TO GROUP DYNAMICS IS THE FOLLOWING TECHNIQUE:
• HAVE EVERYONE STAND UP AND MOVE ABOUT THE ROOM ANY OLD WAY.
• ONCE THEY FIND THEMSELVES AMONG STRANGERS, THEY ARE TOLD TO TURN TO SOMEONE THEY DON’T
KNOW AND MAKE HIS OR HER ACQUAINTANCE.
• MEANWHILE THE CHAIRPERSON AND THE ASSISTANT START ASSIGNING FOUR PAIRS TO A GROUP. EACH
ONE IN THE GROUP THEN INTRODUCES HIS OR HER PARTNER TO THE OTHER SIX.
CHAPTER 8
A PSYCHOLOGICAL THEORY OF GROUP
DISCUSSION
THE UNIQUENESS OF THE INDIVIDUAL’S WORLD
• EVERY HUMAN BEING, FROM TIME HE OR SHE IS BORN, EXPERIENCES THIS WORLD IN A DIFFERENT WAY FROM
EVERY OTHER INDIVIDUAL. PARENTS ARE DIFFERENT, HOMES, BROTHERS, TWINS AND ETC.

THE TRUE SELF, THE SOURCE OF CREATIVITY

• THE TRUE SELF IS NOT REALLY A GOOD RULE OF LIFE TO FOLLOW, SINCE IT GREW AS ONE PERSON’S
OVERGENERALIZED VIEW OF THE WORLD, IT CAN NEVERTHELESS BE SOURCE OF CREATIVITY BECAUSE IT IS IN
CONTACT WITH THE RAW DATA OF LIFE.
DIFFICULTY OF TAPPING AND OF
CORRECTING THE TRUE SELF

• THE FARTHER THE SURFACE SELF IS FROM THE REAL SELF, THE MORE IT WILL FIGHT TO PRESERVE ITSELF
AND TO SUPPRESS THE TRUE SELF. IT WILL DO SO BY EMPHASIZING THE DANGERS OF THE TRUE SELF,
RATHER THAN BENEFICIAL ASPECTS, BY OVERVALUING SECURITY OVER LIBERTY, BY FIGHTING FOR THE
STATUS QOU.
THE DISCUSSION GROUP
A LIBERATION OF THE TRUE SELF
• A SMALL GROUP ACCEPTS THE INDIVIDUAL’S UNIQUENESS, THAT EACH ONE IS DIFFERENT FROM EVERYBODY
AND THAT EACH ONE HAS A RIGHT TO EXPOSE THIS UNIQUENESS BEFORE OTHERS.

A CORRECTION OF THE TRUE SELF

• THE DISCUSSION OF THE GROUP SERVES AS A CORRECTIVE FOR THE TRUE SELF’S OVERGENERALIZATION,
BECAUSE NO TWO PERSON CAN COMPARE IN THE LIGHT OF DAY, HIS OR HER OWN EXPERIENCES AND VIEWS
WITH THOSE OF OTHERS’ TRUE SELVES.
THE DOUBLE FRUIT DISCUSSION: PROBLEM
SOLVING AND PERSONAL GROWTH

• THE DISCUSSIONS USUALLY WINDS UP WITH A FAIRLY GOOD SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM, BUT ALSO
BRINGS IN A SIDE-BENEFIT, WHICH MAY EVENLY MORE IMPORTANT, NAMELY, PERSONAL GROWTH,
GREATER SELF-RESPECT, A GREATER RESPECT FOR OTHERS, DEEPER INSIGHTS, COURAGE TO SPEAK,
CONVICTION, THE PERSONAL ABILITY TO WORK WITH OTHERS.
APPENDIX
GROUP DISCUSSION IN NATION BUILDING
GOALS
THREE DESIRABLE CHANGES:
1. FILIPINOS MUST LEARN TO WORK TOGETHER.
2. TO WORK TOGETHER, THEY MUST LEARN TO TRUST EACH OTHER.
3. TO TRUST EACH OTHER, THEY MUST LEARN TO TRUST THEMSELVES.

TREATMENT
1. GROUP DISCUSSION SUBSTITUTES THE PROBLEM-SOLVING FOR TRADITION APPROACH.
2. GROUP DISCUSSION TEACHES DISCRIMINATING TRUST FOR PEOPLE OUTSIDE THE ALLIANCE GROUP.
3. GROUP DISCUSSION TEACHES INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY