In virtually every focus group discussion fgd, participants. You can use social media to find focus group members or ask friends, family members. A focus group is a focused discussion group that follows a structured questioning. Focus group interviewing richard krueger 4 beginning the focus group discussion the first few moments in focus group discussion are critical. The who, what, when, where, why, and how many of focus. A focus group discussion fgd is a qualitative research method and data collection technique in. The number of participants per focus group where reported ranged from 3 to. The focus group fg has been actually employed by marketing, and is becoming importanct also in other areas. Focus groups are led by a moderator who is responsible to ensure that group discussions remain focused on the research area. A focus group discussion or fgd is a qualitative research method in the social sciences, with a particular emphasis and application in the developmental program evaluation sphere. Characteristics of focus group discussions your business. Best practices in research evaluation what is a focus group. Jan 01, 2002 however, the number of ideas generated may not represent the most appropriate measure of the value of a focus group discussion.
Ideally, the focus group is conducted by a team consisting of a moderator and assistant moderator. They are helpful for adding meaning and understanding to existing knowledge, or getting at the why and how of a topic. Based on studies that have been done in academia on this very issue, 30 seems to be an ideal sample size for the most comprehensive view, but studies can have as little as 10 total participants and still yield extremely fruitful, and applicable, results. Please number participants 1 to 8 and refer to them as such in the transcript. One person is the facilitator and the other is the note taker. The number of recommended sessions depends on the complexity of the study design and the target samples level of distinctiveness 1821.
Within each theme we have tried to address what are the possible subquestions depending on group s answers. Instructions to facilitators are in standard print. In what size, can you have the equality in distribution of conversation turntaking as the research indicates is an important feature of an effective group. A larger number of focus groups is necessary when you expect there to be a wide variety of perspectives on a. Public agencies find focus groups an import a n t tool in improving customer serv i c e. So getting back to the optimal group sizewhats the best number. Marketing firms use focus groups to determ i n e how customers respond to new pro d u c t s. Act as a moderator during your focus group and apply strategies to handle various types of situations. An fgd conducted with front line workers of suaahara good. Notepads and pencils flip charts or easel paper focus group script. Focus groups can be low cost and provide speedy results. Develop the discussion questionsmake sure they are clear.
In contrast, charlesworth and rodwell had more positive views about the use of focus groups with this age group. Tbis article introduces focus group metbodology, explores ways of con. The clients and moderator develop this guide together. A focus group discussion is a qualitative data collection method that engages 6 to 12. Jan 06, 2016 what is the ideal sample size in qualitative research. It is used to learn about opinions on a designated topic, and to guide future action. It typically consists of a facilitator who runs the group, sometimes a cofacilitator or note taker, and 6 to 10 participants.
The ideal amount of time to set aside for a focus group is anywhere from 45 to 90. If the facilitator is anxious, this may make the participants uncomfortable and limit discussion. Recruit participants for your focus group and apply techniques to ensure they show up and participate. Focus group discussion is frequently used as a qualitative approach. There were seven median focus group meetings per study. The ideal size of a focus group for most noncommercial topics is five to eight participants.
Fgds are a predetermined semistructured interview led by a skilled moderator. This paper uses the definition of focus group as a controlled group discussion, on the basis that the group interaction generated through discussion is of prior importance to this methodology. Free and open discussion among the respondents results in generation of new ideas that can be very useful for decisionmaking. Depending on the research objective, the focus group can be used alone or in conjunction with other methods. The ideal amount of time to set aside for a focus group is anywhere. Many of those groups have had an agenda with specific questions to be answered. A focus group gathers together people from similar backgrounds or experiences to discuss a specific topic of interest, guided by a moderator who introduces topics for discussion and helps the group to participate in a lively and natural discussion amongst themselves. Parents share their views on local child care programs, and on what could be done to improve them.
General questions for focus groups in general it is suggested that no more than 10 or 12 general questions are asked during focus groups. The ideal number of questions is between eight to 12 you need to ensure there will be time for every participant to answer. Metode focus group discussion fgd merupakan pendekatan yang umum digunakan untuk mengumpulkan datainformasi pada penelitian kualitatif, tidak terkecuali penelitian keperawatan yang saat ini semakin populer menggunakan metode fgd sebagai metode pengumpulan data. Focus groups can help clarify such perplexing information. Pemahaman tentang fgd istilah kelompok diskusi terarah atau dikenal sebagai focus group discussion fgd saat ini sangat populer dan banyak digunakan sebagai metode pengumpulan data dalam penelitian sosial. It is a form of qualitative research where questions are asked about their perceptions attitudes, beliefs, opinion or ideas. The ideal number for a focus group is between eight and ten people. Pdf the guidelines below are based on the combined recommendations of. Focus groups can help guide marketers in providing better goods and services.
They concluded that focus groups can be used effectively with very young children. The format encourages interaction among participants, allowing them to. Focus group discussions should be used when you need to understand an issue at a deeper level than you can access with a survey. The first few moments in focus group discussion are critical. Focus groups planned discussions designed to elicit group interaction and gather. A focus group is a small group of people in your target market who meet for a guided discussion about your business idea. It can negatively impact the discussion if the facilitator is stopping to write things down.
Use of focus group interviews in pediatric health care. The number of fgds to hold depends on the type and complexity of the research topic. Conducting the focus group ideally, the focus group is conducted by a team consisting of a moderator and assistant moderator. The question is probably best answered by describing why focus groups are conducted. The next step is to identify and invite suitable discussion participants. It can impact focus group discussion if the facilitator is anxious because materials are missing or purchased at the last minute. Focus groups are guided conversations among a number of customers or potential customers to help you learn about various aspects of your business, such as your marketing efforts, quality or customer service. The ideal focus group moderator has the following traits. Some recommend that a group of about 610 participants is the ideal size for focus group research morgan, 1997. The questions and the manner in which the focus group is facilitated will vary based on the type of participants. This method serves to solicit participants attitudes and perceptions, knowledge and experiences, and. In mini focus group discussion, what is the minimum number of. A focus group is a small group discussion guided by a trained leader.
Some good examples of probes used to help clarify what an interview. We then make a case for using focus groups in schools and also explain when they should not be used. Pdf the use of focus group methodology in education. Different moderators are comfortable with different sizes of focus groups, but. What is the ideal sample size in qualitative research. We have all been part of a group or a group discussion. Focus groups can easily turn into patontheback sessions if you. This manual has been provided to assist you in conducting focus groups. Focus groups are generally used to collect data on a specific topic. In a brief time the moderator must create a thoughtful, permissive atmosphere, provide ground rules, and set the tone of the discussion. In their study, focus groups were used as a tool for program evaluation among children from kindergarten to fifth grade. There are no guidelines for best practice for the application of the. Planning for a focus group for third graders will be different than planning one for their parents or teachers and may.
The focus group needs to be appropriate for the type of participants in the group. Generate and pretest an interview guide the interview guide sets the agenda for the focus group discussion by establishing the research questions to be addressed in the focus group. S u r vey designers use focus groups to pre t e s t their ideas and to interpret the quantitative i n f. Challenges associated with focus groups are most often attributed to two main factors. Introduction to focus groups conduct a focus group. I would then like to open up the discussion for the whole group to ask questions and make any comments on their. Focus group discussion diskusi kelompok terfokus sebagai. The who, what, when, where, why, and how many of focus groups this guide is intended for use for focus groups in the context of preparing a new survey or doing an evaluation project. Heong the focus group discussion fgd is a rapid assessment, semi.
Can listen attentively with sensitivity and empathy. How to conduct a successful focus group discussion atlan. Wherever possible, there should be a focus group team. There is no right answer for this, however, many moderators hold a very strong point of view that 8 to10 people is the ideal number. Advantages of focus groups include the possibility of obtaining primary data through nonverbal channels, as well as, verbal channels and approaching the research area from various perspectives. Mar 11, 2011 a focus group or focus interview is commonly defined as a method of collecting research data through moderated group discussion based on the participants perceptions and experience of a topic decided by the researcher 16. The number of focus groups depends on the amount of information.
Depending on the research objective, the focus group can. The requirements for the optimal number of focus group participants needed to. A practical guide to focusgroup research rosanna l. Focus group discussion a focus group discussion fgd is a good way to gather together people from similar backgrounds or experiences to discuss a specific topic of interest. What is the optimal group size for decision making. Within each theme we have tried to address what are the possible subquestions depending on groups answers. The moderator can bring any changes in order to better facilitate the discussion during the group discussion. More than half of the studies n 101 did not report the sample size, whereas 55% n 93 did not report group size and 32% n 54 did not mention the number of focus group discussion sessions while reporting the results figure 4. In contrast to interviews, focus groups allow researchers to observe the dynamic interchange in group settings morgan, 1997 and are well suited to understanding shared meanings e.
You may want to have five to seven people in each focus group and then sitting slightly back from the table could be a number of assistant moderators. Insights from two decades of application in conservation. Using and analysing focus groups iq5 natural discussion or artificial performance. When the group numbers eight or more, a leader or facilitator, whether formal or informal, is almost always helpful in ensuring an effective discussion. Data is collected through a semistructured group interview process. The number of participants per focus group ranged from 2 to 21 with a median of 10 participants. Participants in a focus group 67 gender you want to talk to men who have had false positives on prostate screening tests to find out how this impacted their quality of life.
It is not intended for focus groups in the context of developing a research hypothesis. Pengambilan data kualitatif melalui fgd dikenal luas karena kelebihannya dalam memberikan. In mini focus group discussion, what is the minimum number. A focus group discussion is a qualitative data collection method that engages 6 to 12 peoplewith shared characteristics pertinent to the specific discussion topicand is led by a trained facilitator. A key issue for researchers is the complex relation of focus group talk to. Focus groups were originally called focused interviews or group depth interviews. Interview focus group complex subject matter and knowledgeable respondents, promote discussion between participants on a specific topic when interviewing one person at a time will yield the best info ex. Focus group interview question guides for flexible learning p12. Probe responses and engage participants in a group discussion, while collecting qualitative data and keep the discussion moving. Focus group discussion conclusions blora district, central java november 2009 laura paler columbia university 1 main points there is a high demand for better government in blora, but ordinary citizens do not feel empowered to bring about change. Focus group discussion sessions lasted for 90 median minutes. Identify the minimum number of need to have characteristics that are directly relevant.
The group of participants is guided by a moderator or group facilitator who introduces topics for discussion and helps the group to. A group of two or three generally doesnt need a leader to have a good discussion, but once the number reaches five or six, a leader or facilitator can often be helpful. Focus group a, august 2001 1 focus group on health care experiences. It is felt that if a group is larger than 10 there are too many people to control and it is difficult to get meaningful interaction among the participants. The shared characteristics may relate to a particular problem, livelihoods occupation, age, social group, place of residence, experience of. In this chapter, i will focus on the importance of the focus group method, its history, and its benefits and pitfalls. Saldana j 2016 the coding manual for qualitative researchers. A focus group of parents of preschoolers meets to discuss child care needs. Focus groups explicitly use group interaction as part of the method kitzinger 1995. Family characteristics you want to talk to women who have had babies in the past year to get help in designing a program for new moms. A focus group lasting more than 90 minutes probably includes too many questions or topics for discussion. This publication, introduction to conducting focus groups, is the fifth in a series of guides developed to bring information to this audience about the use of social science tools in their field of work. There is no absolute ideal in terms of the number of participants, although eight to ten participants is the norm.
Guidelines for conducting a focus group data innovation project. Recommendations for both the number of focus groups and sample size vary. Ideally, each focus group will have six to twelve participants. Pdf guidelines for conducting focus groups researchgate. It is important to have a note taker to record the focus group feedback. Focus group methods emerged in the 1940s with the work of merton and fiske who used focus groups to conduct audience. Focus groups, frequently asked questions about focus group.
Focus group weaknesses as with any research method, focus groups are not without weaknesses. Ideal questions are those that probe for what and how respondents. The materials that you will need for focus groups are. In mini focus group discussion, what is the minimum number of participant. A focus group discussion involves gathering people from similar backgrounds or experiences together to discuss a specific topic of interest. The goal of todays meeting is to understand if the internal communications and news you currently receive is effective, relevant and valuable to. Focus groups are a facilitated discussion and work well when the topic can be well scoped. The interview guide sets the agenda for the focus group discussion by establishing the research questions to be addressed in the focus group. A qualitative framework for collecting and analyzing data. A focus group discussion fgd is a qualitative research method and data collection technique in which a selected group of people discusses a given topic or issue indepth, facilitated by a professional, external moderator. Breen faculty of education, university of technology, sydney, australia abstract this article guides readers through the decisions and considerations involved in conducting focus group research. In focus group discussion participants are free to.
Some theoretical and practical considerations, 5 3 article pdf available in international electronic journal for leadership in learning 5. Focus group sample size recommendations from these books and a number of journal. The public was invited to attend any or all of the discussions held in various places in the com. The flexible format allows the facilitator to explore unanticipated issues that may arise during the discussion. Focus groups produce indepth qualitative information. The advantages of focus group discussion are as follows. A focus group discussion fgd is a good way to gather together people from similar. Focus groups qualitative research guidelines project. Ideally, the focus group is conducted by a team consisting of a moderator and an assistant moderator. Given the small number of participants in a focus group discussion and the. Breen faculty of education, university of technology, sydney, australia abstract this article guides readers through the decisions and considerations involved in conducting focusgroup research investigations into students learning experiences. How to run a focus group to assess your business idea. A focus group is a group discussion of a particular topic of interest.
In what follows 6 or 7 main themes have been identified. The number of participants per focus group where reported ranged from 3 to 21 participants with a median of 10 participants. How are tbey distinct from ordinary group discussions and wbat use are tbey anyway. In most situations, focus groups are conducted in special facilities that contain a one way mirror.
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