The Impact of Facilitation on the Quality of Deliberation and Attitude Change

The Impact of Facilitation on the Quality of Deliberation and Attitude Change

by Metka Kuhar, Matej Krmelj, Gregor Petrič
Small Group Research Volume: 50, Issue: 5, pages: 623-653
Article first published online: August 26, 2019; Issue published: October 1, 2019

“The results show the facilitation’s significant influences on attitude change and the perceived quality of the group deliberation.”

Abstract

Many researchers claim that facilitation is a determining factor, if not a necessary condition, for successful deliberative discussion, but little research has applied randomized experimental designs to empirically test such claim. This article analyzes the effect of professionally facilitated versus non-facilitated discussions in a real-life context on participants’ attitudes and the perceived quality of group deliberation, controlling for various individual- and group-level variables. We conducted 26 deliberative discussions with 226 teachers from 13 primary schools on the topic of school discipline measures. We assessed the teachers’ post-discussion perceptions of the perceived quality of the group deliberation and their attitudes toward school discipline measures pre- and post-discussion. The results show the facilitation’s significant influences on attitude change and the perceived quality of the group deliberation. Quality of deliberation is also influenced by heterogeneity of restorative attitudes in discussion groups, whereas attitude change is to a large extent determined also by pre-discussion attitudes.

https://doi.org/10.1177/1046496419861439

Intergroup Dialogue: A Review of Recent Empirical Research and Its Implications for Research and Practice

by Keri A. Frantell, Joseph R. Miles, Anne M. Ruwe

Small Group Research, Volume: 50 issue: 5, page(s): 654-695
Article first published online: May 7, 2019; Issue published: October 1, 2019

Abstract

Intergroup dialogue (IGD) is a small group intervention that allows for sustained communication between people across social identity groups. It aims to foster intergroup relationships, develop critical consciousness, and increase capacities for promoting social justice. A decade after Dessel and Rogge published their review of the empirical research on IGD from 1997 to 2006, we reviewed the empirical IGD research from 2006 to 2017. We explore research that has examined IGD outcomes, processes, and facilitation, seeking to understand the current state of the research and practice of IGD. We discuss advances and new approaches to IGD, assess growth since Dessel and Rogge’s review, and discuss future directions. We provide five key recommendations for future research on IGD, and five key recommendations for future practice of IGD.

https://doi.org/10.1177/1046496419835923