Monday, February 4, 2008

Dialogue, Debate, and Discussion

Today I was wondering about the difference between dialogue, debate, and discussion. I could think of the following points. I look forward to have getting inputs to make to sharper.

Dialogue

Debate

Discussion

It is a collaborative/cooperative exercise. In this case multiple sides work toward a shared understanding

Debate is competitive and/or oppositional exercise. Here multiple sides try to prove each other wrong.

Multiple sides try to work towards achieving a common goal. However, each party holds on to a point of view and rather than trying to prove the other party wrong, the intention is to talk about issues less passionately.

In dialogue, one listens to understand, to make meaning, and to find common ground

In debate, one listens to find flaws, to spot differences, and to counter argue

Here both types of action can take place.

Dialogue enlarges and possibly changes a participant's point of view

Debate defends assumptions as truth;

Parties tend to search more about each others point and have higher regard than debate for another persons point of view

Dialogue creates an open-mined attitude. An openness to being wrong and an openness to change

Debate creates a close-minded attitude. A determination to be right.

Discussion often tends to lead toward one "right" answer

One submits the best thinking expecting that other person's reflections will help improve it rather than threaten it

One submits the best thinking and defends it against challenges to prove that it is right

It is a mix of both debate and dialogue actions.

Dialogue calls for temporarily suspending of one's beliefs

Debate calls for investing wholeheartedly in one's beliefs

It is a mix of both debate and dialogue actions.

One searches for strengths in all positions

One searches for weaknesses in the other positions

It is a mix of both debate and dialogue actions.

Dialogue respects all the other participants and seeks not to alienate or offend

Debate rebuts contrary positions and may try to demean other participants

One respects other participants. However, if something goes wrong, elements of debate are explicit.

Assumption: many people have pieces of answers and that cooperation can lead to a greater understanding

Assumption: a single right answer that somebody already has

No prior commitment on one single right answer. One tries to arrive at some set of solutions

Dialogue remains open-ended

Debate demands a conclusion

It can be either way

Dialogue is mutual inquiry, collective knowledge

Debate is individual opinions/ individual knowledge

Discussion is also individual opinions/individual knowledge

Practices a product

Produce products

Produce products

Dialogue is divergent

Debate is convergent

Can be either way, however normally convergent

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Interesting topic on different forms of interaction! Another related category is "conversation." You may find Gordon Pask's formal ideas on conversation of relevance to your reflection.