Constructive discussion: conceptualising a framework for productive communication across personal, conversational, institutional and cultural spheres

Lozano Paredes, LH; Riedy, C; Baumber, A; Robinson, H; Salignac, F; Matter, S; Spackman, C; Mason, S; Potts, M; Wearne, S

Constructive discussion: conceptualising a framework for productive communication across personal, conversational, institutional and cultural spheres

Lozano Paredes, LH Riedy, C Baumber, A Robinson, H Salignac, F Matter, S Spackman, C Mason, S Potts, M Wearne, S

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Publisher:: Bristol University Press
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Global Social Challenges Journal, 2025, pp. 1-28
Issue Date:: 2025-04-11

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Lozano Paredes, LH
dc.contributor.author	Riedy, C
dc.contributor.author	Baumber, A
dc.contributor.author	Robinson, H
dc.contributor.author	Salignac, F
dc.contributor.author	Matter, S
dc.contributor.author	Spackman, C
dc.contributor.author	Mason, S
dc.contributor.author	Potts, M
dc.contributor.author	Wearne, S
dc.date.accessioned	2025-04-14T07:31:36Z
dc.date.available	2025-04-14T07:31:36Z
dc.date.issued	2025-04-11
dc.identifier.citation	Global Social Challenges Journal, 2025, pp. 1-28
dc.identifier.issn	2752-3349
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/186896
dc.description.abstract	<jats:p>Increased polarisation and unwillingness to engage with difference create obstacles to addressing complex societal challenges. This can be observed across numerous countries in relation to controversial issues such as climate change, immigration, inequality, housing affordability and racial justice. In this article, we explore the potential for ‘constructive discussion’ to help address these societal challenges. Constructive discussion emphasises a need for diverse perspectives to be raised and exchanged in a manner that enables reflection and practical decision making. Similarly, in order to define and conceptualise what constructive discussion means, a transdisciplinary approach is required to ensure that diverse perspectives, concepts and knowledge bases are included.</jats:p> <jats:p>This article presents a holistic framework for understanding, identifying and applying constructive discussion strategies in a way that acknowledges the multiple contexts and scales at which the concept can be applied. The proposed framework features four nested spheres: personal, conversational, institutional and cultural. Within and across the spheres, a range of relevant concepts can be drawn upon to enable constructive discussion, including reflexivity, transformative learning, deliberative democracy and appreciative inquiry, to name a few. By reviewing these concepts as a transdisciplinary team and integrating them into the proposed framework, we demonstrate how others may apply the framework in future to enhance constructive discussion in diverse contexts.</jats:p>
dc.language	en
dc.publisher	Bristol University Press
dc.relation	University of Technology Sydney
dc.relation.ispartof	Global Social Challenges Journal
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1332/27523349y2025d000000043
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.title	Constructive discussion: conceptualising a framework for productive communication across personal, conversational, institutional and cultural spheres
dc.type	Journal Article
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Provost
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Provost/TD School
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
dc.rights.license	This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0). To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
dc.date.updated	2025-04-14T07:31:35Z
pubs.publication-status	Published

Abstract:

Increased polarisation and unwillingness to engage with difference create obstacles to addressing complex societal challenges. This can be observed across numerous countries in relation to controversial issues such as climate change, immigration, inequality, housing affordability and racial justice. In this article, we explore the potential for ‘constructive discussion’ to help address these societal challenges. Constructive discussion emphasises a need for diverse perspectives to be raised and exchanged in a manner that enables reflection and practical decision making. Similarly, in order to define and conceptualise what constructive discussion means, a transdisciplinary approach is required to ensure that diverse perspectives, concepts and knowledge bases are included. This article presents a holistic framework for understanding, identifying and applying constructive discussion strategies in a way that acknowledges the multiple contexts and scales at which the concept can be applied. The proposed framework features four nested spheres: personal, conversational, institutional and cultural. Within and across the spheres, a range of relevant concepts can be drawn upon to enable constructive discussion, including reflexivity, transformative learning, deliberative democracy and appreciative inquiry, to name a few. By reviewing these concepts as a transdisciplinary team and integrating them into the proposed framework, we demonstrate how others may apply the framework in future to enhance constructive discussion in diverse contexts.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/186896