Page 371 - Effective group discussion theory and practice by Adams, Katherine H. Brilhart, John K. Galanes, Gloria J

354 Appendix A

FIGURE A.1
Mapping a problem
Unknown
A information

D B

C

Before discussion, individual and After discussion, a group
subgroup maps of the problem map of the problem

Shared by two Shared by three Shared by all
members of group members four members

2. Make an inventory of information you have about the subject.
Each member needs to be on the same page as a group begins its problem-
solving process. However, an advantage of group work is that members bring
different perspectives, information, opinions, and so forth to the discussion.
Members should represent different points of view; they should pool their
collective knowledge and resources by sharing what they know, which they can
do by mapping the problem thoroughly.
In mapping, participants share all they know about a problem: facts,
conditions, complaints, circumstances, factors, happenings, relationships,
effects, and so forth. Someone— the group recorder or a volunteer— keeps track
of the information that members share. Before the mapping process begins, as
illustrated in Figure A.1, two or three members may have shared some
information, but very little information was shared by all four. Some
information was unknown by any of them. After the mapping process, four
members share all of what they each know, ideally. Members are also in a better
position to assess what they don’t know and to plan a strategy for finding that
information.
3. Organize the information into a rough draft of a problem- solving outline.
Group together individual pieces of information, by topic, question, or issue.
You may want to use the guidelines suggested in Chapters 9 and 10.

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