What is the next steps?
Edwin - Review existingÂ
The West's Suicidal Empathy | Dr. Gad Saad
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KiD9kXePvYÂ Â
https://otter.ai/u/uMxeqFZydKsadw-kWxUcZohRHDs?view=summary
Jodie Jenson and Edwin Rutsch discussed the challenges of facilitating empathy circles, particularly when political comments lead to conflicts. Edwin suggested a conflict workshop using restorative empathy circles. Jodie shared her experience with empathy circles, noting her lack of exposure to conflict. They also discussed the potential for a study on empathy circles, including data collection and the need for IRB approval. Jodie mentioned her recent recovery from COVID-19 and the completion of her second-year project. They explored variables like group size, turn-taking, and the impact of feedback on participants' empathy skills.
[ ] @Edwin Rutsch - Look into the CITI training certificate that Edwin has previously completed, and determine if it is still valid or if he needs to retake the training.
[ ] @Edwin Rutsch - Explore the possibility of incorporating a conflict resolution module into the empathy circle facilitator training.
[ ] @Edwin Rutsch - Reach out to researchers like Tanya Singer who have studied the benefits of dialogic interactions, to potentially incorporate insights from their work.
[ ] Consider different experimental designs for studying the empathy circle practice, such as including silent observers, recording sessions for external evaluation, and longitudinal follow-ups.
[ ] Organize regular empathy circle sessions on campus to build a pool of participants familiar with the practice, who could then potentially participate in a research study.
Jodie Jenson discusses the challenge of balancing openness and safety in empathy circles, especially when political comments lead to conflicts.
Edwin Rutsch shares his experience of mishandling a political comment in a planning meeting, emphasizing the need for better facilitation.
Jodie Jenson reflects on her lack of experience with conflict in empathy circles, noting that her previous experiences were with like-minded individuals.
Edwin Rutsch mentions a video of a conflict mediated with the Extinction Rebellion group in Santa Cruz, highlighting the public nature of such conflicts.
Edwin Rutsch introduces the concept of restorative empathy circles, a modified version of the empathy circle for conflict resolution.
Jodie Jenson expresses interest in learning more about restorative empathy circles, noting her limited experience with conflict in empathy circles.
Edwin Rutsch explains the influence of Dominic Barter's restorative circles on his practice and the creation of a course on conflict resolution.
Jodie Jenson shares her thoughts on the importance of having a framework to help people work through conflicts in empathy circles.
Jodie Jenson updates Edwin Rutsch on her recent recovery from COVID-19 and the challenges of having her children home with illnesses.
Jodie Jenson discusses her completion of her second-year project, which she describes as a master's thesis, and the stress of balancing her health and family responsibilities.
Edwin Rutsch expresses concern for Jodie Jenson's health and offers support for her recovery.
Jodie Jenson mentions her upcoming major presentation and the impact of COVID-19 on her ability to present in person.
Jodie Jenson and Edwin Rutsch discuss the potential for a study on empathy circles, including the need for data collection and the challenges of managing multiple roles during facilitation.
Jodie Jenson considers the possibility of using her research assistants to help with data collection and facilitation.
Edwin Rutsch offers to assist with the study and mentions the need for IRB approval and ethical considerations.
Jodie Jenson and Edwin Rutsch discuss the importance of keeping data collection simple to avoid participant fatigue and ensure high-quality data.
Jodie Jenson and Edwin Rutsch explore the various factors that can influence empathy circles, such as the number of participants, the presence of silent listeners, and the duration of the circle.
Edwin Rutsch shares his experience with longer empathy circles and the unique consciousness that develops over time.
Jodie Jenson suggests experimenting with different variables, such as allowing silent listeners to show immediate feedback, to understand their impact on social connection.
Edwin Rutsch emphasizes the importance of having a clear design for the study to ensure consistency and avoid confounding variables.
Jodie Jenson and Edwin Rutsch discuss the practical challenges of conducting a study on empathy circles, including the need for a uniform script and the potential for participant anxiety.
Edwin Rutsch suggests using videos to standardize the facilitation process and ensure consistency across different groups.
Jodie Jenson considers the benefits of having participants familiar with the empathy circle practice before being evaluated in a study.
Edwin Rutsch highlights the importance of feedback and reflection in the empathy circle process, noting that it can be a valuable learning experience for participants.
Jodie Jenson and Edwin Rutsch discuss the next steps for planning the empathy circle study, including identifying potential participants and ensuring ethical considerations.
Jodie Jenson mentions the need to validate a new scale for measuring empathy and the challenges of ensuring internal consistency.
Edwin Rutsch offers to assist with the study and suggests reaching out to retired academics for insights and advice.
Jodie Jenson plans to report back on her progress with the empathy circle study and her family's experience with the practice.
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Meeting summary
Edwin and Jodie discussed strategies for managing political discussions in meetings and explored the potential of restorative empathy circles as a conflict resolution tool. They reviewed Jodie's recent experiences with COVID-19 and her plans for conducting research on empathy circles, including discussions about study design, data collection, and IRB approval processes. The conversation concluded with an exploration of empathy scale development, variations in circle facilitation, and the challenges of research studies involving multiple variables, with Edwin offering to assist Jodie with her upcoming research.
Jodie: Try empathy circle with her family this week and report back
Jodie: Research CITI training requirements and whether certificates expire
Jodie: Do mind mapping in 2 weeks to organize thoughts on dissertation project options
Jodie: Decide whether to pursue empathy circle dissertation or other project
Edwin and Jodie discussed the challenges of facilitating meetings that veer into political discussions, with Edwin reflecting on a recent instance where he struggled to maintain focus. They explored the potential of restorative empathy circles as a tool for managing conflict, with Edwin sharing his experience of adapting the process for real-world scenarios. Jodie expressed interest in participating in a training session on restorative empathy circles, which Edwin mentioned Lou is developing. They agreed that using real-world examples in the training would make the process more relevant and powerful.
Jodie discussed her recent experiences with COVID-19 and managing her health while completing her second-year project and a major presentation. She also shared her plans to conduct a study on the Empathy Circle practice, potentially involving Edwin and two research assistants. Jodie expressed concerns about the challenges of data collection and the need for multiple facilitators. Edwin offered to assist with the study and mentioned his previous completion of CITI training, which Jodie suggested might be necessary for the study.
Jodie and Edwin discussed the process of obtaining IRB approval for research involving human subjects, particularly for external researchers. They reviewed Edwin's completed research training courses and discussed the importance of keeping questionnaires simple to avoid participant fatigue. Jodie shared insights from a recent study where participant engagement declined significantly towards the end of a lengthy questionnaire. They also explored the possibility of consulting with experienced researchers, such as Dan Batson, to gain insights on study design and scale validation.
Jodie and Edwin discussed the development and validation of an empathy scale for use in studies, focusing on the challenges of existing scales and the potential for a multi-perspective approach. They explored the idea of using silent listeners, recorded sessions, and independent evaluators to gather data, acknowledging that this would likely influence participant behavior. They also considered the long-term effects of empathy training and the importance of participants' prior experience with empathy circles. Jodie emphasized the need to account for participants' initial discomfort with the format and suggested that facilitators could help by setting expectations and providing guidance.
Edwin and Jodie discussed the importance of standardizing scripts and using videos to ensure uniformity in experimental designs for empathy circles. They explored the benefits of dialogic relating and the differences in dynamics between two-person and four-person circles, with Edwin emphasizing the value of four-person circles for richer perspectives and more realistic group interactions. They also considered studying the effects of extended empathy marathons on consciousness.
Edwin and Jodie discussed variations in empathy circle facilitation, including the number of participants, speaking turns, and silent observers. They explored the idea of silent listeners providing non-verbal feedback, such as emojis or signs, to engage with the conversation. Edwin shared an experience where a participant's distracting behavior was addressed within the circle, highlighting the importance of maintaining focus and managing distractions. They concluded by suggesting the creation of a table to document and analyze the various factors that can be adjusted in empathy circles.
Jodie and Edwin discussed the challenges of research studies involving multiple variables and the benefits of focusing on one variable at a time. Jodie proposed conducting empathy circles with participants who are already familiar with the framework to reduce anxiety levels. They also talked about Jodie's upcoming shift from her thesis to focusing on empathy research for her dissertation. Jodie agreed to report back on her experience conducting an empathy circle with her family and on her progress in mapping out a study design. Edwin offered to assist Jodie with her research and suggested they continue their conversation in two weeks.