How to be a good discussant?

Here are some ideas/tips on how to be at discussing papers.

  1. Your first responsibility is to help the audience clearly understand the contributions of the paper.
  2. Place the paper in the larger body of literature. What are its stated contributions? Do you agree with the contribution claims?
  3. Take time to carefully read the paper in-detail.
    • Is the question interesting? Relevant to whom?
    • Is the research design appropriate? Are there other ways you would approach the problem?
  4. What are some suggestions you would give the author team?
  5. Where do you see the research stream going next? Are there unanswered open questions (give details)?
  6. BE CRITICAL; BUT CONSTRUCTIVE.

Other useful resources

  1. https://www.dallasfed.org/~/media/documents/educate/events/esp/tipsdiscussant.pdf
  2. https://ecpr.eu/Events/Event/Content?ID=539&EventID=124
  3. https://business.unl.edu/academic-programs/departments/marketing/about/robert-mittelstaedt-doctoral-symposium/guidelines/