Method guide · Arrange people and ideas
First-Day Contact Loop Trial
Try two contact routes on the first day, including responses and acknowledgements, with a genuine option to stop.
- People
- 4–48
- Base procedure time
- 75 minutes
- Recording
- Individual record
Purpose: Begin together; Build working relationships.
English guide
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How this method works
An opening method that sends requests and responses through two contact routes on the first day. In areas of 4–8 people, each participant chooses two different routes from direct conversation, a written card, and a neutral relay person. Send one short mock request at a time without real confidential information, continuing through a response and acknowledgement of receipt. Record only completed, stopped, or declined on each person's route card; do not share personal names or relationship lines with everyone. Do not ask anyone who stops or declines to make contact again. Do not use the method in relationships involving a risk of violence, harassment, or retaliation, or where contact across affiliations is prohibited.
Phase schedule
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- Choose contact boundaries0–10 minutes from the start (10 minutes)
Action: Choose. Participation: Small groups able to move.
Individual record
- Prepare mock requests10–25 minutes from the start (15 minutes)
Action: Consider. Participation: Small groups able to move.
Individual record
- Try the first route25–45 minutes from the start (20 minutes)
Action: Try. Participation: Small groups able to move.
Individual record
- Use a different route45–65 minutes from the start (20 minutes)
Action: Read. Participation: Small groups able to move.
Individual record
- Check stopping points65–75 minutes from the start (10 minutes)
Action: Check. Participation: Small groups able to move.
Individual record
Facilitation steps
- For 10 minutes, in circles of 4–8, confirm the scope of contact and how to decline, then choose two routes to use.
- For 15 minutes, write two separate mock requests of no more than 40 characters each, without confidential information.
- For 20 minutes, use the first route to send a request to the person on the left and complete one round trip through a response and acknowledgement of receipt.
- For 20 minutes, use a different route to send a request to the person two seats away. If either person stops or declines, finish without making contact again.
- For 10 minutes, record completed, stopped, or declined on individual cards. Only the person concerned chooses a route they could use next.
If something changes
If
At least one request on the first route is declined or stopped.
Then
Allow the person to finish without further contact. Only if they choose to continue, move to a different route and the person two seats away; do not record both routes as completed unless they are completed.
If
An area with fewer than 8 people is asked to share counts by route.
Then
Do not share counts; each person chooses only their next route on a private card.
Preparation
Materials
- Low-disclosure mock-request cards with a 40-character field (2 per person)
- Station signs for direct conversation, a written card, and neutral relay (1 set per area)
- An individual card recording completed, stopped, or declined for both routes (1 per person)
- Numbered markers for counting each relay person's maximum of 4 requests (8 per area)
Room and setup
- Arrange areas of 4–8 people in circles, showing the person to the right, the person to the left, and the person two seats away.
- Choose 2 relay people for each round. Explain that refusing has no disadvantage, real confidential requests must not be used, and each person takes their individual card home.
Adjust for people and time
With 4–8 people, use one circle and distinguish the person to the right, the person to the left, and the person two seats away. With 9–48, divide into areas of 4–8, with route stations and 2 relay people in each area. Each relay person handles no more than 4 requests per round; do not increase an area beyond 8 people. Do not aggregate results, and return individual cards to their owners.
Safety and non-applicable situations
Refusing must have no disadvantage. Do not use real confidential requests, share individual names or relationship lines, or require renewed contact after a stop or refusal. Do not use the method where violence, harassment, retaliation, or prohibited cross-affiliation contact is a risk. Each person retains their own card, and no overall aggregation is made.
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