Dotmocracy
Dotmocracy is a structured method for gauging agreement on written statements within a group. Participants anonymously express their opinions using a dot-based scale, resulting in a visual representation of collective sentiment.
Use Dotmocracy when you need to quickly assess the level of support for a range of ideas or proposals, especially with larger groups where verbal discussion might be inefficient.
Solves: Difficulty prioritizing numerous ideas; Risk of dominant voices influencing decisions; Need for anonymous feedback.
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Step 1: Prepare Dotmocracy sheets with clear statements or ideas. (15 minutes)
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Step 2: Explain the dotting scale (strong agreement to strong disagreement/confusion) to participants. (5 minutes)
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Step 3: Participants individually review the sheets and add their dots, signing each sheet. (20-30 minutes)
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Step 4: Collect the sheets and analyze the results, noting patterns of agreement and disagreement. (10 minutes)
- Ensure statements are concise and easily understandable.
- Encourage participants to add brief comments to explain their dotting choices.
- Clearly display the results for the group to see and discuss.
- Use different colored dots to represent different demographic groups.
- Conduct a second round of dotting after a brief discussion to see if opinions have shifted.