Group discussion

Group discussion
Group discussion is a method by which two or more persons meet,
express or convey their ideas, clarity and bring about a solution to
the commonly felt problems by their own efforts.

Objectives
1. Democracy in action involves group functioning.
2. Systematic discussion among representative persons promotes
the
analysis of commonly felt needs.
3. We can solve many important problems or meet the needs only
through group action.
4. Group discussion provides opportunity to the members of the
group to exchange their experience or their points of view.
5. It promotes the habit of group thinking, group
planning, group action and expression.
6. Most of the problems in many villages could be solved
by group action which means that there should be
organized group in the village with a group leader.
7. Organised group may not always be available in a
village. Lack of organized group by itself is a challenge
for the extension worker. The village group must be
identified first that the public interest should be
focused on a problem to mobilize the villagers to action.
8. Group discussion is a miniature democracy giving equal
rights, privileges and opportunities to every members
to discussing issue.
How to conduct a group discussion
 identify the individual interested in a particular
problem through individual contact
 time, date, place and the topic should be
informed
 seating arrangements should be in a circular or
semicircular fashion
 receive the member with a welcoming smile
 atmosphere of the meeting should be kept
friendly and informal
 group leader should be elected democratically
 At the beginning of discussion, ideas should be
invited from members of the group and the
problems should be defined.
 should not dominate the discussion
 should encourage all the persons
 discussion should promote recognition of problem
 The extension worker should not give the
impression that his solution
 discussion made the summary of the problem
 Appreciate the members for their valuable
contribution.
 Undertake a systematic follow-up.
Application

 Intensive deworming for sheep.

 Disease prevention measures.
 Formation and working of co-operation.
Advantages
1. Every participant shares the pride of having
helped in solving the problem.
2. Helps in deciding the debatable issues.
3. Leaders, group interests and problems are
discovered.
4. Group planning and group action results.
5. Fairly large numbers can be reached.
Limitations
1.Group factions in the village might hinder the
effective working of the method.
2. ‘Traditional leaders’, who are not functional,
come in the way of group activities.
3. Possibility of creating rivalries.
4. Difficult to avoid unconnected persons’
attendance.