A Descriptive Study of the Structure of Practical Facilitation Knowledge Among Expert Workshop Facilitators

Abstract

This study was aimed at clarifying in structural terms the practical knowledge of facilitation on the part of expert workshop facilitators. To this end, we conducted observational and interview-based surveys with three such experts. As a result of our analysis, it became clear that the experts compared information perceived in the facilitation setting with their conceptual knowledge of individual psychology and the properties and relationships of groups. Clearly, they then determined specific actions using procedural knowledge regarding the observation of participants and the respective adjustments of programs, information transmission, relationships, and reactions. Moreover, it was suggested that all of these shared the background factor of metacognitive knowledge that values the workshop as a democratic method that is free of authority and norms. It was further suggested that conflicts arising among these respective forms of metacognitive knowledge engendered facilitation difficulties unique to individual experts. The results of this analysis yielded several suggestions with regard to practitioner training.