Fishbowl
ACTIVITY TYPE
- Consulting
DESCRIPTION
Fishbowl is a method for discussions in large groups. The intention of Fishbowl is to bring a group of people as heterogeneously composed as possible into intensive discussions on certain key questions. The form of the fishbowl makes controversial discussions possible. It also clarifies and channels different positions. Fishbowl, for example, is well suited for the following purposes:
- Discuss communicated changes.
- Shape topics to be discussed in large groups in a stimulating and participatory way.
- In the final phase of an event, e.g. open space, to name essential points in a short time and to include the perspectives of all participants.
WATER/ AGRICULTURE EXAMPLE
If you encounter a problem that is blocking you from working on a project in landscape water management, it is worth using this method. It gives the opportunity to solve a problem that is difficult for a team that has been cooperating for years. It can also help with work with the local community, if a future water investment may significantly change their situation.
HOW TO USE IT ONLINE
The method is difficult to adapt on-line.
RESOURCES NEEDED
- Time to do: 30 to 60 minutes
- Staff: at least one facilitator, expert representatives of the topic
- Equipment: large room with multiple tables and chairs
There should be enough space to build an inner circle of about 5-7 chairs and place all listeners and observers in one or more circles of chairs around the inner circle.
SUITABLE FOR
medium and large groups
HOW TO DO IT
- Arrange 4-5 chairs in an inner circle (the fishbowl). With the remaining chairs, arrange them in concentric circles outside the fishbowl (the audience).
- Ask for a few participants to fill the fishbowl and have the rest of the participants fill the outside chairs.
- One chair in the fishbowl is left empty.
- The moderator introduces a topic and the conversation begins with those in the fishbowl. The audience listens to the discussion.
- Any member of the audience may sit in the empty seat and participate in the discussion. When this happens, an existing member of the fishbowl must depart a chair, always leaving one chair free.
- the moderator summarizes the discussion.
- For evaluation, all participants are asked to comment on the course of the discussion.
- Following the feedback, the results can be collected together.
ADVANTAGES
- Good for presenting group results.
- Suits for controversial issues and open discussion processes.
- Good for making special interests heard in a larger group.
CHALLENGIES
- Participants should talk to each (do not make speeches).
- No microphones, as not all participants in the middle could be heard equally well otherwise.
- The method is often integrated into a larger-scale process.
- Unsuitable for reaching decisions, as there is no way of determining how many participants support which position.
VARIATIONS
- In a closed fishbowl, no chairs in the fishbowl are left empty. Under this mode, the initial participants in the fishbowl converse about the topic for a specified amount of time. W Then, when the time runs out, they are replaced by a new group of participants. This process continues until all the audience members have spent some time in the fishbowl.
- Allow for the fishbowl to run for a certain period of time, then have the moderator stop the discussion and invite the audience to contribute their comments to the discussion.
MORE INFORMATION
https://www.projektmagazin.de/methoden/fishbowl-diskussion-innenkreis-aussenkreis