What is a focus group?
Focus group discussions bring together small groups (often six to ten people) to “focus in” on one topic that is of interest to a client. The topic might be a new product or service, public issues, advertising, etc. You might be invited to participate in a group session or an individual interview conducted face-to-face at a market research facility or other location, or by phone, or over the internet.
A focus group is a personal interview simultaneously conducted among a small number of individuals. The interview relies more on group discussion than on a series of directed questions to generate data. It is also called a group in-depth interview. Focus groups are often held online using chat systems and they pay up to $250 for sharing your opinions in an interactive manner.
What will be discussed this evening. • How focus groups work. . . • interested in your viewpoints, you represent 3 – 4 million people who may have views just like you • research project, not selling anything, just want your perceptions • talk to each other, not just to me • not right or wrong answers, OK to differ, if your opinion is different I want to hear it • honest answers • everyone talks, no hand-raising • Microphones, recording, assurance of privacy • Observers behind the one-way mirror • Role of the moderator: • put out issues/subject areas • facilitate the discussion, get everyone to talk to each other • Ground rules • no wandering • no vague words • no talking more than 1 at a time • Self-introductions: tell us your name, what you do, the kind of hours you work, and briefly tell us where you went on a long driving trip during the past year.
• A focus group is a relatively small, homogeneous, and informal group of individuals who are assembled to discuss a specific topic led by a trained moderator. Who is in a focus group? • A focus group is typically composed of 6 to 12 people. • Participants are reasonably homogeneous and are selected on the basis of specific characteristics (age, gender, occupation, interest, education, group membership). What is the purpose of a focus group? • A focus group is used to provide qualitative data about the attitudes, perceptions, and opinions of participants regarding the topic of discussion. • Focus groups are not intended to reach a consensus, to arrive at a plan, or to make decisions about what course of action to take. • Focus groups do not generate quantitative information that can be projected to a larger group. Planning the Study: What are the steps involved? 1. Identify the purpose of the study. • You should identify the purpose of the focus group by writing a general purpose state
You can also participate in a “Focus Group,” which is a team of people just like you that have been selected researchers to discuss and comment on the topic that is the subject of the research. Just like surveys, you simply share your opinions and discuss them with others. Focus groups are often held online via special communication or chat systems, but they also take place in the “real” world as well. If you are interested in participating in these types of focus groups, we show you how – and you can often earn up to $150 per hour for doing so! Focus Groups are usually a more lengthy process – lasting anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours or longer. As with surveys, the compensation rises along with the participation necessary. The thing to remember is this: You always know the specifics up front and you pick the ones you like!
