This document discusses group discussions and provides guidance on how to effectively participate in one. It defines a group discussion as a collection of individuals who regularly interact and work together towards common goals. The key points made are: Group discussions are an important tool for problem solving, decision making, and personality assessment. They evaluate a candidate's subject knowledge, oral communication skills, leadership abilities, and ability to work as part of a team. Good discussion skills can lead to academic and career success. Participants must listen to others, express their views clearly, and play various roles like initiating topics, seeking opinions, summarizing, and managing tensions. Proper preparation and avoiding domination or interruptions are also important for effective participation.

1. GROUP DISCUSSIONGROUP DISCUSSION
AAC-307
Communication Skills for Agricultural
Development
Dr. Arpita Sharma
Assistant professor,
Dept. of Agricultural Communication, College of
Agriculture
GBPUA&T, Pantnagar

2. Group
A collection of individuals who have regular
contact and frequent interaction, mutual
influence, common feeling of camaraderie,
and who work together to achieve a common
set of goals.

3. TYPE OF DISCUSSION
 Group Discussion
 Focused group
discussion
 Panel Discussion

4.  A GD is a methodology.
 It is a systematic and purposeful interactive
oral process.
 Here the exchange of ideas, thoughts and
feelings take place through oral communication
 In this methodology, the group of candidates is
given a topic or a situation, given a few
minutes to think about the same, and then asked
to discuss it among themselves for 15-20
minutes.

5. IMPORTANCE OF GROUP
DISCUSSION
 It is an effective tool in problem solving,
decision making and personality assessment.
 GD skills may ensure academic success,
popularity and good admission or job offer.
 Participants should know how to speak with
confidence, how to exhibit leadership skills
and how to make the group achieve the
goals.

6. TYPES OF TOPICS
1. Factual Topics: Factual topics are about practical
things, which an ordinary person is aware in his day-
to-day life. Typically these are about socio-economic
topics. e.g. The education policy of India, Tourism in India
2. Controversial Topics: Controversial topics are the
ones that are argumentative in nature. They are meant
to generate controversy. e.g. Reservations should be
removed, Women make better managers.
3. Abstract Topics: Abstract topics are about
intangible things. These topics are not given often for
discussion, but their possibility cannot be ruled out. These
topics test your lateral thinking and creativity. e.g. A is an
alphabet, The number 10

7. FOUR MAJOR AREAS OF
EVALUATION IN
SELECTION GDS
[1] Subject knowledge: Participants must possess a
thorough understanding of the topic on which they are
supposed to speak.
[2] Oral communication skills: communication skills is
more important as without expression, the knowledge
is of no use.
[i] Listening skills: unless you listen, you cannot
contribute to the stated purpose of communication.
[ii] Clarity of thought and expression: Clarity is the art
of making yourself clear to the audience.
[iii] Apt Language: The flow of language must be smooth.
[iv] Proper non verbal clues: Non verbal clues include eye
contact, body movements, gestures and facial
expressions.

8. [3] Team management success in a GD depends
on how well you play the role of initiator,
information seeker, information giver,
procedure facilitator, opinion seeker,
opinion giver, clarifier, summarizer, social-
supporter, tension reliever, compromiser,
attacker, humorist and dominator.
[4] Leadership Skills: The success of any team
depends to a larger extent on its leader. The
panel evaluates a candidate’s personal skills
which allow him to prove himself as a natural
leader in the GD.

9. ROLE DURING GD
 Initiator
 Information seeker and giver
 Procedure facilitator
 Opinion seeker/giver
 Clarifier
 Summarizer
 Social supporter
 Harmonizer
 Tension reliever
 Energizer
 Attacker
 Dominator

10. PHASES IN A GD:
Initiation/introduction
The central group discussion
Summarization/conclusion

11.  It helps you to understand a subject more
deeply.
 It improves your ability to think critically.
 It helps in solving a particular problem.
 It helps the group to make a particular decision.
 It improves your listening skills.
 It increases your confidence in speaking.
 It can change your attitudes.

12.  Speak pleasantly and politely to the group.
 Respect the contribution of every speaker.
 Think about your contribution before you
speak.
 Try to stick to the discussion topic.
 Don't introduce irrelevant information.
 Be aware of your body language when you are
speaking.

13. DONT’S
 Don’t lose your temper.
 Don’t Shout. Use a moderate tone and
medium pitch.
 Don’t use too many gestures when you speak.
Gestures like finger pointing and table
thumping can appear aggressive.
 Don’t dominate the discussion.
 Don’t interrupt. Wait for a speaker to finish
what they are saying before you speak.

14.  Communication Skills.
 Knowledge and ideas regarding a given
subject .
 Capability to co-ordinate and lead.
 Exchange of thoughts.
 Addressing the group as a whole.
 Thorough preparations.

15. Thanks