Conducting A Focus Group

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					                       Conducting A Focus Group

What are Focus Groups? And why we use them?

Most people love to be asked their opinion and they're generally not shy about voicing it.

comment. Organizations generally use focus groups in planning, marketing, or
evaluation, either to improve some specific product or service or, more globally, during
the development of strategic plans or mission statements.

Specifically, the a focus group session concentrates on:
    Gathering opinions, beliefs, and attitudes about issues of interest to your
    Testing your assumptions
    Encouraging discussion about a particular topic
    Building excitement from spontaneous combination of participants' comments
    Providing an opportunity to learn more about a topic or issue.

Before The Focus Group:

     Define the purpose, i.e. objectives of the focus group
      This has to be clear and specific. The more defined the objective the easier the rest
      of the process

     Establish a timeline
      A focus group cannot be developed overnight. The planning has to start several
      weeks ahead of the actual session; experts say 6 to 8 weeks realistically. Make sure
      you have enough take time to identify the participants, develop and test the
      questions, locate a site, invite and follow up with participants, and gather the
      materials for the sessions.

     Identify the participants
      o Determine how many participants you need and how many to invite.
      o Develop a list of key attributes to seek in participants based on the purpose of
         the focus group.
      o Using the list of attributes, brainstorm about possible participants.
      o Secure names and contact information, finalize the list, and send invitations.

      Focus groups should consist of six to twelve participants. Fewer than six
      participants tends to limit the conversation, because there is not enough diversity to
      spark energy and creativity. A group larger than twelve gets to be unwieldy, and
      voices get lost. However, you should invite more, allowing for no-shows.

4. Generate the questions

Because a focus group will last for little more than one or two hours, you will only have
time for four to seven questions. You may to include one or two introductory or warm-up
questions and then get to the more serious questions that get at the heart of the purpose.

To be effective, focus group questions should be open-ended and move from the general
to the specific. E.g., after asking the question, “What do you like about the user
interface?” you might ask, “If you could build a new user interface from scratch, what
would you put in to make a better one?” or “What would make the user interface more
appealing to your peers?” or even more specific, “Do you have any suggestions about
what the personae (faces)—what they should look like or what they should do?”

        Once you have a list of questions, look at your purpose statement again
        Keep questions that are really important and that qualify for your purpose
        Eliminate as many questions as possible.
        Rewrite the questions with good editing.
        Order the questions that will be comfortable for the participants, i.e. moving from
         general to specific.

5. Develop a script

Generating questions is a prelude to developing a more detailed script for your focus

Plan on a one - to two -hour time frame. A minimum of one hour is recommended
because the process requires some time for opening and closing remarks as well as at
least one or two questions. Be cautious not to exceed two hours.

           There are three parts to a focus group script:

1.       The opening is the time for the facilitator to welcome the group, introduce the
         purpose and context of the focus group, explain what a focus group is and how it
         will flow, and make the introductions.
2.       The question section is where you ask the questions that you designed and tested in
         Step 4.
3.       The closing section wraps up the focus group. This includes thanking the
         participants, giving them an opportunity and avenue for further input, telling them
         how the data will be used, and explaining when the larger process will be

6. Select a facilitator

   A focus group facilitator should be able to deal tactfully with outspoken group
   members, keep the discussion on track, and make sure every participant is heard.

   The facilitator should be knowledgeable about the project. He or she can be a staff
   member, volunteer, or member of a committee or task force.

   Be wary of anything about the facilitator (or facilitators) that might make participants
   uncomfortable. For example, you may not want the organization's executive director to
   facilitate a staff focus group about a new performance appraisal system.

7. Choose the location

   You Need a setting which can accommodate the participants and where they would
   feel comfortable expressing their opinions.

   When choosing a location, ask these questions:

    What message does the setting send? (Is it corporate, upscale, cozy, informal,
     sterile, inviting?)
    Does the setting encourage conversation?
    How will the setting affect the information gathered? Will the setting bias the
     information offered?
    Can it comfortably accommodate nine to fifteen people (six to twelve participants
     plus facilitators), where all can view each other?
    Is it easily accessible? (Consider access for people with disabilities, safety,
     transportation, parking, etc.)

Conduct The Focus Group:

   It’s time to actually conduct the session!

   The materials you might need for the session are:
    Notepads and pencils  
    Flip chart or easel paper  
    Focus group script  
    List of participants
    Markers
    Name tags  
    Refreshments  

The facilitator should arrive before the participants, set out the refreshments, and arrange
the room so all participants can view one another -- U-shaped seating or all at one table is
     As participants arrive, the facilitator should set the tone for a comfortable,
       enjoyable discussion by welcoming them just as would any gracious host.
     Introduce yourself and the co-facilitator, if used.
     Explain the means to record the session. Make sure you record the session!
     Carry out the focus group as per the plan and script.
     The facilitator should have some room for spontaneity, i.e., asking spontaneous
       questions that arise from the discussion, probing deeper into a topic.

Attention to the following items will help ensure success:
    Set the tone; participants should have fun and feel good about the session.
    Make sure every participant is heard; draw out quieter group members.
    Get full answers (not just "we need more money" but "we need more money to
       hire a receptionist to answer phones").
    Monitor time closely; don’t exceed time limits. 
    Keep the discussion on track; try to answer all or most of the questions. 
    Head off exchanges of opinion about individual items.


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