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 |
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.
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1 comment:
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.
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