Most of us remember that there were thousands of competitions in our school times. We used to participate in many activities, such as singing, dancing, acting, group discussions, debates, sports, etc.
Group Discussion vs Debate
The main difference between group discussion and debate is the group discussion is more of a group activity. Either the whole group wins or the whole group loses. On the other hand, in the debate, there is an individual winner.
Group discussion is an activity that is done in a group. The whole group is assigned a certain topic. Then the bunches of people go around the table and discuss this topic. All of them put their viewpoints. Everyone’s viewpoint is heard.
The debate is an activity that usually happens between two individuals. It can also happen between the two groups. In a debate, the individuals are given a topic. One speaks for the topic and the other one speaks against the topic. The two groups ‘debate’ on who is right. In the end, one is declared the winner.
Comparison Table Between Group Discussion and Debate
| Parameter of Comparison | Group Discussion | Debate |
| Type of activity | Group | Individual |
| Topic division | All the group members get the same topic. | One individual gets to speak for the topic and the other one against the topic. |
| What skills are required | Critical communication skills, public speaking skills, ability to interact with other people’s opinions | Critical communication skills, public speaking skills, ability to concisely say why you are right |
| Where is it done | Many organizations conduct a group discussion as a part of their interviewing process. Even the army conducts group discussions to assess certain skills. | It is mostly done in competitions, parliamentary debates, or big panel talks like the presidential debate in the USA. |
| Length (in minutes) | 10-40 minutes | 30-100 minutes |
What is Group Discussion?
A group discussion is an activity which is done in ‘groups’. The group gets into a ‘discussion’ and discusses the topic. The term group discussion is self-explanatory. A group plus discussion.
In a group discussion, a team of 5-10 individuals gets together. They might be assigned a topic from the observer. Then they are given a time-limit, for example, 40 minutes. In 40 minutes, the whole group has to discuss the topic. Each member is expected to contribute to the discussion.
Group discussions are used by organizations and institutions. The GD (Group Discussion) is an effective way of assessing their interpersonal skills, their ability to listen, their ability to effectively contribute to the discussion. GD also helps in assessing the leadership, managerial, problem-solving, and creative skills of the candidate.
Group discussion is such an effective tool in picking the right candidate because it involves a group of people discussing something. In a group, some people ought to stand out better than others. That helps the company shortlist candidates quickly. Group discussion can also be done at a societal level to fight societal stigma. GD can also help in increasing the awareness of the participating members.
A group discussion isn’t harmful when it is done in moderation and there is a panel to control the group members. Otherwise, the members may start fighting on who’s right and wrong.