Self-Assessment Questions (SAQs) for Study Session 20
Now that you have completed this study session, you can assess how well you have achieved its Learning Outcomes by answering these questions. Write your answers in your Study Diary and discuss them with your Tutor at the next Study Support Meeting. You can check your answers with the Notes on the Self-Assessment Questions at the end of this Module.
SAQ20.1 (tests Learning Outcomes 20.1 and 20.2)
Choose from the following list those features that you think describe a community conversation, and say why:
- CC focuses only on a very specific part of the community.
- CC works because it ignores diversity and focuses on a pre-determined problem.
- CC recognises the voices of women.
- CC takes place recognising diversity as a useful feature of its participants.
- CC does not recognise difference, as it is thought this gets in the way of proper discussion.
- A CC recognises the potency of a community talking about its problems
Answer
Items 3, 4 and 6 are components of effective community conversations. Diversity, and hearing many voices, as well as recognising the potency of a well-represented community all talking about and owning their health issues, are all a part of community conversations.
SAQ 20.2 (tests Learning Outcome 20.2)
In the following list of items, mark those which are pre-conversation work (PC), and those which are work that takes place during the community conversation (CC).
- Motivate the participants to abide by the ground rules of the meeting that they have agreed on.
- Collaborate with other community health workers and concerned people, and together with them identify and prepare the meeting or conversation place.
- Make sure that the conversation runs smoothly, and ensure the clarity of the views for each of the participants by checking out their level of understanding.
- Select participants and collect all the materials needed for the community conversation.
- Help participants stick to the main issues and the agenda, and make sure that everybody listens to each other. Compromise may be necessary in order to resolve conflict by helping the participants arrive at a consensus through clarifying their ideas.
- Facilitate the process of the community conversation.
- Introduce the general objectives of the community conversation to the influential local opinion leaders,and ask for their ideas and support.
Answer
Items 2, 4 and 7 involve pre-conversation (PC) work. Items 1, 3, 5 and 6 involve work that takes place during the community conversation (CC).
SAQ 20.3 (tests Learning Outcome 20.3)
What are the features of a good facilitator for a community conversation?
Answer
The main role of the facilitator is to understand any differences in the ideas between community members, and make their discussions quick and easy. A good facilitator has a number of personal qualities. They are polite and respectful, not impatient or hot tempered, and definitely a good listener. They also have a strong sense of the rights of the group of people they work with. They share their problems, appreciate their skills and knowledge, and refrain from mentioning sensitive issues, which may offend people in the group. They do not take sides on an issue.
Summary of Study Session 20