Page 86 - Mike Ratner CC - WISR Complete Dissertation - v6

Table 1.1

Features and Techniques Common Across DD and CC Processes

Feature Description

Group member status Democratic; dialogue participants regarded equally around the table.
Dialogue Informal; a circle or other formation suitable to face-to-face interaction.

environment Facilitated by a moderator trained in the dialogue process.
Interaction principles Conducive to honest interaction.

Free of personal attack, disrespect, or coercion.

Invites diverse perspectives.
Suspends reaction and judgment.

Clarifies, tests, and compares personal and cultural opinions and

assumptions-one’s own as well as those of others.
Group norms or Variations, with typical norms including:

"groundrules" Give everyone a fair hearing.
Listen carefully to others.

Speak for yourself, not for others.
Avoid name-calling or stereotyping.

Speak your mind freely, but don’t monopolize the conversation.

Facilitator functions Redirect dominant speakers and encourage quiet members to speak.
Summarize main thoughts or ideas that emerge.

Shift focus to invite other topics or points of view to emerge.

Build on ideas presented.
Sources of processes reviewed include Bohm, 1990; Kettering Foundation, n.d.; Schein, 1993;

Senge et al, 1994; Study Circles Resource Center, 1996.

Note. Retrieved from Deliberating About Education: A New Policy Tool by Southwest

Educational Development Laboratory. Insights on Educational Policy, Practice and Research. 10,

p. 5. 1999.

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