Civil Discourse as a Depolarization Strategy: An Exploration of Gen Z Dialogue Using Epistemic Network Analysis and Reflexive Thematic Analysis

This paper investigates the impact of engagement in civil discourse on a group of U.S. college students. To address rising antagonism among groups and individuals with differing ideologies, an intervention was designed to test whether dialogue can be depolarizing. Although dialogic tools have been touted throughout the historical literature, little research exists into the efficacy of such methods in the context of contemporary polarization. Furthermore, the discourse dynamics of Generation Z have not been widely studied. This study employed epistemic network analysis to examine the discourse patterns that emerged in a facilitated group dialogue among 26 students and 19 individual, follow-up interviews. Additionally, reflexive thematic analysis was used to further analyze and interpret patterns and themes within data. The research results indicate that engaging in civil discourse had a substantial effect on subjects’ attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors.