Scribd
Upload
5 views23 pages

Focus Group Discussion Best Practices

The document outlines the structure and purpose of focus group discussions (FGDs), emphasizing the importance of guided conversations among selected participants to gather insights on specific topics. It details the roles of moderators, observers, and participants, along with the steps involved in conducting FGDs, including planning, sampling, and analysis. Additionally, it highlights potential limitations and essential skills required for moderators to facilitate effective discussions.

Uploaded by

Kritika Budhiraja
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
5 views23 pages

Focus Group Discussion Best Practices

The document outlines the structure and purpose of focus group discussions (FGDs), emphasizing the importance of guided conversations among selected participants to gather insights on specific topics. It details the roles of moderators, observers, and participants, along with the steps involved in conducting FGDs, including planning, sampling, and analysis. Additionally, it highlights potential limitations and essential skills required for moderators to facilitate effective discussions.

Uploaded by

Kritika Budhiraja
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Focus Group Discussion

Session 07
Research Questions
• Addressing topics related to certain segment
• Addressing topics which are sensitive
• Addressing topics which might be latent
• Addressing topics which need wider response
Introduction
• A systematically planned conversation among a small and carefully
selected group of participants, guided by a trained moderator, to
generate rich, interactive, and contextual insights about a particular
topic, experience, or phenomenon (Lancister, 1989).
Introduction
• Discussion among participants
• Data from group interaction
• Structured and guided
• Topics that group answers best
• Generally led by a moderator
Observers
• Was everyone contributing equally?
Observers
• Were people getting influenced with each other choices?
Observers
• Did the conversation started to drift away? At what point?
Observers
• What suggestion would you give to the participating team?
Participants
• Were you able to put your points across?
Participants
• Were you able to uncover things that may not be known to you from
others perspective? Or you found others perspective too distant/
unrelatable?
Participants
• What suggestions would you make to the team including moderator as
well as planners?
Moderators/ Team
• Did the conversation go as planned?
Moderators/ Team
• Were participants able to relate with and contribute towards your
research question?
Moderators/ Team
• How many phases have you planned for before the FGD? Did you
improvise?
Moderators/ Team
• Do you think you were able to get close to your problem statement?
Moderators/ Team
• What would you do different in the second FGD?
Steps in FGD
• Identifying the problem statement for a concerned topic
• Sampling
• Developing the discussion guide (icebreaking, no. of questions,
sequencing, phases)
• Developing protocols for the moderator
• Pilot Study
• Conducting the FGD per guide and protocols
• Debrief
• Analysis
Composition (Depth vs Breadth)
• Homogeneity vs Heterogeneity
• Strangers vs Familiar Individuals
• Novice vs Expert
• Power differentials
Designing FGDs
• No. of participants (How many)
• No. of FGDs (How much)
• Sampling (Who)
Questions to Avoid

• Closed ended questions

• Double-barreled questions

• Assumptive questions

• Ambiguous questions

• Jargon-laden/ acronym based questions


Limitations
• Group Dynamics
• Social Desirability
• Bias and skills of moderator
• Reliance on recall of participant
• Linguistic barriers
Essential Skills of Moderator
• Facilitation of discussion (catalyst)
• Effective communication (articulation)
• Listening (Effective probing)
• Appropriate sensitivity (empathy)
• Impartiality (neutral)
• Flexibility
• Cultural understanding
Participants
• Active Participation
• Passive Participation
• Dominant Participation
• Rambling behavior
• Silent Participation

You might also like