Which Method Should I Use?: Navigating the Continuum of Dialogue and Deliberation

The National Coalition for Dialogue and Deliberation (NCDD) provides resources, programs, and networking opportunities for a rapidly growing community of practice dedicated to solving group and societal problems through honest talk, quality thinking, and collaborative action. The "dialogue and deliberation community" is a loose-knit community of practitioners, researchers, activists, artists, students, and others who are committed to giving people a voice and making sure that voice counts. NCDD has nearly 700 members and holds biennial national conferences.

The NCCD session, titled "Which Method Should I Use?: Navigating the Continuum of Dialogue and Deliberation" addressed some of the following questions: What do methods like Sustained Dialogue, National Issues Forums, Study Circles, and Conversation Café have in common, and how are they distinct? How in the world do we decide which method to use? Session participants will explore the spectrum of dialogic and deliberative practice and where dozens of leading methods land on the continuum. Utilizing mini case studies and an innovative new tool designed collaboratively by the NCDD community, participants learned about the variety of models that are available to them and how to decide which method is right for their circumstances.