Preparing for the Focus Group
Drafting questions. To effectively plan or evaluate your program, you will need to focus your questions around the clients’ needs or purpose of the program, respectively. Questions should be worded carefully and follow a logical sequence, flowing from topic to topic. Selecting and recruiting participants. Participant selection and recruitment is a critical step in the focus group process. In order to form fairly homogeneous groups, participants are usually selected on the basis of certain common characteristics. Once participants for the focus groups have been identified, the next challenge is getting them to attend. A personalized invitation should be extended and reminders by mail or telephone should be used immediately prior to the session. Four to ten participants usually constitute a focus group. The effectiveness of the focus group can be maximized if the size of the group can be kept to six to eight people. Site selection and equipment. Assuming a group of 8 to 10, a small meeting room away from potential distractions, such as a noisy hallway or lunchroom, is preferred. You also may want an available blackboard or flip chart for recording key comments or ideas during the session. It is recommended to record the focus group sessions so that the full dialogue, as well as major points offered by the participants, will be captured.
Tips for Managing the Focus Group
The key to conducting successful focus group sessions can be traced to effective group management. Your role is to present stimulating questions for the group to discuss. You may want to write ideas and comments on a flipchart to stimulate discussion and record information. Once you present a question to the group, it is important to step back and allow the discussion to progress with only a minimal amount of interruption on your part. However, there are some important tips for you to consider as you seek to foster a successful discussion among the participants:
Allow periods of silence
Avoid asking questions that seem to suggest a correct answer
Try not to let personalities dominate the discussion
Encourage input by those who are less inclined to speak out on the questions being discussed
Make every effort to practice good listening skills
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