Group Discussions - Part III
Page - 2
Does the Moderator have any
biases or preconceived notions about the topic?
Ideally, the Moderator is
supposed to be unbiased and neutral. But being a human being, the Moderator may
not be totally free from bias. The Moderator may feel strongly about
a topic and your views could differ from his. If you are a good participant,
this will not seriously affect your chances of getting selected.
Can we expect the Moderator to
stop or cut short the Group Discussion much before the stipulated time is over?
At times, if the Group Discussion
becomes chaotic, or the level of discussion deteriorates abysmally, the
Moderator might cut short the Group Discussion.
Can I be aggressive with a
lady participant?
Being rude in a Group Discussion
(to any member) is downright unacceptable. But being aggressive (within
acceptable limits) is entirely OK, with both male and female members of the
group. A Group Discussion is no place for excessive gallantry.
Is it OK to ask pointed
questions of the group members?
While you may ask for some
clarifications from other members during a Group Discussion, remember that you
should not play the Devil's Advocate. Some participants question regularly the
statements of the group members (with the aim of proving them wrong) and are
difficult to convince. By playing the Devil's Advocate, such a participant
obstructs the smooth flow of the Group Discussion and does not allow the topic
to progress. The pointed questions that he/she asks unsettles the other members,
and the quality of the Group Discussion deteriorates. The Moderator would hold
such a tedious inquisitor responsible for this, and would judge him/her badly.
Is it necessary that the group
should arrive at a conclusion in the stipulated time?
In the ideal case, the group is
expected to reach a conclusion. Normally, the time constraint does not allow the
group to do so. Where not all points have been discussed, and there is need for
further discussion, the group may continue if it wishes, without a conclusion or
a consensus.
