Q.:- What is the importance of Group Discussion?
Or
What do you understand from Group Discussion?
Ans.:-
Introduction:-
You might have found people discussing social, religious, political or economic issues at a restaurant, bus stop, canteen, tea stall, club, etc. We too discuss various matters in our daily life with our friends, relatives, family members, and others. Even family members also discuss family matters at home. These discussions can be informal as well as formal. Informal discussions take place in informal setting whereas formal ones take place in formal setting, like at the office, a conference hall, or a recruitment centre. When a group of people deliberately come together to have discussion on a specific matter in a formal setting, it may be called Group Discussion.
Group discussion, or popularly known as GD, is a group activity in which a small number of persons form a group to exchange their views, opinions, knowledge and information on a particular issue, topic, problem or situation. The exchange takes place through spoken words. Each member is given a fair chance to speak and express her/his opinion. S/he listens to the other member as well as shares her/his own views. Since the number of participants is small, it is not difficult to involve every member in the discussion. The group members interpret, analyze and argue so as to discuss the topic or case threadbare as a team. It is a team activity just like a football match where player passes the ball to her/his team member and aims at a common objective.
GD is formal and systematic. There is no room for emotional outburst or excitement in the discussion. The discussion contains self-imposed discipline, and greater responsibility lies on participants' shoulders to make it effective. Generally, there is no named leader of the group. As the discussion proceeds, one of the participants emerges as a leader. But sometimes a person is assigned the responsibility to moderate the discussion. S/he or some other person can evaluate the contribution made by each participant as well.
Number of Participants:-
It is difficult to specify the number of participants to make a group discussion fruitful. However, there can be ten or more participants, but, in that case, some tend to avoid participation and remain mere listener(s). The discussion may lose its significance because each participant would not present her/his views. Researches reveal if the number is kept between 5-9, fruitful discussion can take place. If there are less than five participants, the discussion can lack diversity of views and opinions.
Objectives:-
GD is a goal-oriented activity. Each participant is usually aware of the objective beforehand. The goals are generally decided before the conduct of GD. But main objective of GD is to provide a wide range of solutions to a particular problem and reach at a viable amicable
solution. But sometimes the participants fail to reach at a consensus; the decision is left with the audience in that case.
Besides decision making, it helps in eliciting personality traits of the participants. That's why several companies conduct GDs in order to find out the qualities they are expecting from the prospective employee(s). A group of short-listed candidates is given a topic which is usually debatable and of current importance. The candidates have to speak on the topic within a limited period of time which ranges between twenty to forty five minutes. An
observer, appointed by the prospective employer, sits through the discussion and Judges each participant's communication skills, tolerance, leadership qualities, intellectual ability, group behaviour, and approach to solve problems. The candidates are screened on the basis
of their performance.
Group discussion is also an instrument of education to develop and judge the students'
personality traits. It trains the students to function in the professional world efficiently.
Many educational institutions also use GDs for the screening of candidates for admission
to a particular course. It is used apart from the written test and/or interview.
Ways to Organize a Group Discussion:-
There are two ways of organizing a group discussion: first, the topic is announced before the discussion, and the participants come prepared for the discussion. Second, the topic is announced on the spot. The participants are given five to ten minutes to collect their
thoughts. But in both the cases, the exchange takes place in a systematic and structured way. The chairs are arranged in a circle so that every participant can observe the expressions of other participants.
Example:-
Group Discussion on the topic: "Impact of TV Serials”
(Five persons- Ashok, Shreya, Swati, Mahesh and Rohan-are the participants.)
Ashok : Hello everybody! We are here to discuss the impacts of TV serials. As all of us know, television is the most reachable means of mass entertainment that has gripped the nation by wide range of coverage and has been yielding fast and great impact on the society. With the expansion of TV network, the culture of TV serials appeared. These serials have many interwoven stories or sometimes past and present is amalgamated to extract maximum publicity among the viewers. These are so popular among urban, semi-urban, and rural populace that sometimes viewers miss a professional appointment but not the serial. Most of the serials are set in high society, sophisticated settings, with modern furniture, expensive dresses, jewelry, cars and luxurious lifestyle. Serials set trends among the young people who ape everything, which appeal their instinct. They watch latest fashion and etiquettes in the serials and follow them.
Shreya : You are right Ashok, but this pomp and luxurious life-style has been degrading the youth. They try to grab these luxuries by hook or crook. They take short cut route to become rich, and sometimes use unfair means to grab it. This is because of the impact of TV serials.
Swati : But serials also inculcate moral values among the viewers. We can take examples of the serials, 'Ramayana' and 'Mahabharata. These religious serials provide information on our past in a new perspective especially to the young generation. Historical serials, like 'Akbar the Great'. "The Sword of Tipu Sultan' and 'The Great Maratha supply the saga of our past.
Mahesh : I agree with my friend, but what about the serials based on Saas-Bahu saga. These are set in the traditional India n social household environment, particularly highlighting the joint family aided and with myriad problems, ranging from petty clashes to intrigues and adultery. These are responsible for the disintegration of social values and joint-family system. Adventurous serials, like 'Shaktimaan, create waves among the children and they try to act like the character in the serial. Many children had to lose their lives in the pursuit. In order to add sensation, the producer tries to give a new fillip that shows something unhealthy or unconventional.
Rohan : It cannot be denied that serials kill precious time of youngsters as well as professionals, but they have greater place in modern life. There is a greater need that the serials must be intended to preserve social values rather than spoiling them in the race of minting money.
Some GD's have a person as moderator who moderates the discussion. S/he makes sure that the participants are not going off the track. S/he acts like a leader and triggers passion among the participants. S/he remains supportive and sympathetic towards them.
After completion of the discussion, s/he provides feedback to the participants, in five point scale, (5 for excellent 4 for very good, 3 for good, 2 for average, and 1 for below average). S/he rates the participants on the basis of confidence, attitude, communication skills,
interpersonal skills and intellectual knowledge. S/he provides honest feedback to each participant without any prejudice. S/he does not judge any participant by his/her own appearance or academic achievements, rather remains impartial and free from pre-conceived notice.
Example:-
Group Discussion on the topic: "Need of Distance Education in India" (Seven persons- Anuj, Bhavya, Charu, Dinesh, Ekta, Faizan and Gurpreet- are the participants. The GD is moderated by Sakshi).
Sakshi : Good morning friends! Today, we shall discuss on the need of distance education in India. As you know, in spite of a large number of colleges, formal system of education failed to reach the masses. An urgent need was realized to develop some system that can meet the rising demand of education. So, India developed a new system which has been named as 'education through distance mode. It has proved a boon for Indians. A large number of people have been getting education through this system. The government has started 'open schools' and 'open universities' for the students who cannot take formal education, or fail to secure admissions in regular colleges to study further.
Charu : You're right Sakshi! But would the students reap the benefit of regular classes? No! They'll not be able to get the advantage of classroom teaching.
Dinesh : My dear, it's not there. They attend PCP classes on Sundays and holidays. They come with their doubts, and teachers clear the doubts. Moreover, they study through radio and television. Many open schools and universities relay their programmes through mass media. They send their study material to the students which consists of very high quality.
Charu : But what about practical classes?
Gurpreet : You are not aware Charu. Most schools and universities provide the facility of laboratories as well. Students visit the study centre and perform their practical there. They remain open in Sunday and holidays.
Sakshi : Bhavya, you want to say something. Please share your opinion.
Bhavya : This system is beneficial for the students who work somewhere. They take their jobs during week days and attend their classes on weekends.
Ekta : But do the universities and employers consider their degrees equal to the degrees of regular courses? Some employers consider their degrees inferior to that of earned through regular classes.
Faizan : No Ekta. It's not there. Their degrees have equal weight. The students get admissions, jobs, and promotions on the basis of the degrees provided by the open schools and open universities.
Sakshi : What're your views Anuj?
Anuj : As a developing country, India has several impediments. Some of them are high illiteracy rate, growing population, poverty, and limited resources. Two third of India's population reside in villages. Government cannot provide school and college in every village. However the government is trying its best, but it's difficult to reach to every individual with education because of limited resources. Distance education is a boon for those who reside in far flung areas or villages. Moreover, women are not allowed in villages to attend schools or colleges because of orthodox mentality. Distance education provides them an opportunity to continue their studies.
Sakshi : I do agree with all of you. The limitations of formal system of education have led to the inception of distance education. It has absorbed the students who could not find admission in regular colleges, could not continue their studies, or so. However it may have some limitations, but it is really beneficial for the students.
Thanking you for read my blog 😁😁
