What is a Focus Group?

A focus group is a group of individuals, usually six to eight, brought together for a
more or less Open-ended discussion about an issue. This qualitative research tool
provides a subjective, but not statistically valid, understanding of the larger
community’s attitudes.

Characteristics of focus groups

In qualitative research, focus groups have some differences from other survey
methodologies.

1. Insight not Rules

Focus group can provide trustworthy naturalistic data that also lead to important
insights about human behaviors by allowing all participants to say anything they
would like in front of the whole group. Meanwhile, researchers listen not only for
the content of discussions but observe something beyond talking, such as tone and
emotions which help them to learn or confirm not just the facts but the meaning
behind the facts.

2. Social not Individual

In a focus group session, conversation among participants results in discussion

data. In this way, focus groups elicit information that paints a portrait of combined
local perspectives because the research may seek ways to fit all together. It is
possible to gauge a groups’ overall reaction to educational materials, but not on an
individual basis.

3. Homogenous not Diverse

Focus group researchers select and invite 20-25 people with similar characteristics
to a single session. The goal is to fill the room with a minimum of 10-12
participants that are similar which is supposed to increase the quality of the data.
 4. Flexible not standardized

During the course of a two-hour session, we can see a natural conversation will be
produced because individuals are allowed to laugh, tell personal stories, revisit
earlier questions, disagree with other research, the moderator only needs to lead the
conversation on track by applying his prepared interview guide. Actually, a well-
designed guide encourages group members to relax, open up, think deeply, and
consider alternatives.

5. Warm not Hot

Focus groups do not produce reliable data on topics that produce extremely strong
feelings. Because conversation in some cultures which are of a sensitive nature
will not be discussed thoroughly.

6. Words not Numbers

Focus groups rely upon words spoken by participants. A report based on focus
groups will feature patterns formed by words, called themes or perspectives.
Researchers must use specific methods to analyze patterns in spoken language.A
focus group method isn’t meant to create generalizations of this type and its
procedures offer none of the protections that would permit them to do so (Fern,
2001). Numerical analysis is not a preferred technique. In fact, it is inappropriate to
report a result of focus groups by percentage.
Steps to Successful Focus Groups
Group Works works collaboratively with its clients through these ten steps to meet
each client’s unique Research needs:
1. Define objectives – – What are you trying to find out? What decisions will be
made as a result of the information discovered? What is the primary, most critical
objective? What are the secondary objectives?

2. Identify specific information needs – – What specific questions do you need

answered? What do you already know and where are the gaps in your information?
What hypotheses do you have about the attitudes and behavior of your target
audience? Think ahead to implementation of decisions; what else will you need to
know? What marketing materials/proto‐types do you have to show respondents for
Feedback?

3. Determine number, composition and location of groups

4. Recruit the right respondents Who is the target audience? What kind of person
is best able to give you the information you need? Group Works will help you
define the screening requirements and will design a questionnaire for the recruiters
to use in screening participants to get the most appropriate focus group respondents
for each research project. Group Works supervises the recruiting process and
adjusts specifications/strategies as needed.

5. Select and manage the field services Group Works identifies the best choice
field services in each market and handles all arrangements for focus group facility
rental and recruiting services. This includes scheduling facility rental, managing
recruiting, ordering equipment, food and respondent incentives.
.
6. Develop discussion guide Group Works will develop discussion guide, review
with client and revise as necessary. GW will work with client to determine what
materials will be used to stimulate discussion (concept boards, list of attributes,
sample marketing materials, etc.)

7. Moderate groups GW Moderator will facilitate focus group discussion, keep

discussion flowing, draw out respondents, probe important areas, etc.

8. De‐brief viewers GW Moderator will discuss observations with viewers

immediately after groups.
9. Analyze results and prepare written summary GW moderator will review
tapes and notes from focus groups and prepare summary. Several different
reporting options are available according to client needs.

10. Present results and discuss marketing implications GW moderator will

review key findings with management team and discuss implications.

Types of Focus Groups

1. Two-Way Focus Group

In two-way focus groups, one group watches another group answer the focus
group questions. By hearing what another group thinks, this opens up more
discussions and may lead the second group to different conclusions than those it
may have reached without hearing another group's opinions.

2. Dual-Moderator Focus Group

In dual-moderator focus groups, two moderators are used: One moderator

ensures the smooth progression of the session, while the other moderator makes
sure that all topics are covered. Discussions with only one moderator can
sometimes veer away from the main point; two moderators can ensure a more
productive session.

3. Dueling-Moderator Focus Group

Dueling-moderator focus groups use two moderators playing devil's advocate

with each other. Because one purpose of focus groups is to shed light on new
ways of thinking, a contrary viewpoint added to the mix often facilitates new
ideas.

4. Client-Participant Focus Group

Client-participant focus groups involve the client who ordered the focus group
sitting in on the focus group, either in secret or openly. This gives clients more
control over the discussion: If there are specific areas the client wants covered,
for example, he can lead the discussion where he wants it to go.

5. Respondent-Moderator Focus Group

In a respondent-moderator focus group, one (or more) of the participants takes
on the temporary role of moderator. The person asking the questions often
influences participants' answers; therefore, when different people take on the
moderator role, this increases the chances for varied, more honest responses.

6. Mini Focus Group

A regular-size focus group has eight to 12 participants, while a mini focus

group uses four or five members. Depending on the client and subject matter, a
more intimate approach may be called for.

7. Teleconference Focus Group

Focus groups can meet though teleconferencing if it's geographically restrictive

to gather all the participants together in one room. While this type of focus
group may not be as effective as meeting in person (participants won't be able
to read others' body language), teleconferencing may still suffice in certain
situations. For example, if the focus group has come about because of a
company conflict, and the focus group members simply want to feel heard by
upper management, then a teleconference can offer that opportunity.

8. Online Focus Groups

In online focus groups, all participating members are able to share information
and responses via their computer screens. People participating in these groups
can be divided into three groups: moderator, participant and observer. Online
focus groups work as if there's a two-way mirror in the room: Observers can
conduct special "back room" chat sessions to which only the moderator or the
other observers have access.
The advantages of focus groups 

 The Authority Role Of The Moderator

The face-to-face involvement of a qualified moderator can ensure that the

conversation is always on track, and encourage participants’ engagement without
one individual dominating the meeting 

 The Ability Of Group Participants To Interact With Each Other

When participate are stimulated to discuss, the group dynamics can generate new
thinking about a topic which will result in a much more in-depth discussion.  

 The Dynamic Nature Of The Methodology

Due to the dynamic environment the moderator can modify the topics, which are
prepared before the session to make the topic more suitable for the purpose. 

 The Ability To Involve The Client Personnel In The Research Process

In traditional focus groups it is possible for the client personnel to watch the whole
discussion behind a one-way mirror. The client personnel can provide their
thinking to the moderator, which may help the moderator better handle the
direction of discussion, and improve the quality of output.  

 The Capability To Utilise Non-Verbal Behavior As A Research Input

The expression, attitude of individual, the intensity of the conversation etc. can be
perceived by the researcher, which can modify the moderator’s decision and also
can be counted in the research result.  

 The Level Of Participant Involvement In The Research

Because every participant is under observation by the moderator and everybody

know the process has been videotaped, it is easy to make participants fully engage
even during non-discussion time.  
  The Greater Security Associated With Traditional Focus Group
Research

The possibility to screen each participant, lets the researcher know who have been
involved. This ensures that for example your competition is not involved.

The disadvantages of focus groups

Focus groups are not the optimal technique for all research situations, the
criticisms below have been mentioned by people who promote some other
qualitative research methods. 

 Focus Groups Tend To Become Influenced By One or Two Dominant

People In The Session Thus Making the Output Very Biased

The moderator plays an essential role in handling the situation, but if the moderator
is not experienced enough, it is very easy for the whole discussion to be dominated
by a few people.  

 Focus Groups Are Not As Effective As IDI’s In Dealing With Sensitive

Topics

It is difficult to have the participants share their real feelings towards some
sensitive topics publicly. This can in turn influence the output data. 

 Focus Group Output Is Not Projectable

If a great deal of consistency in the results from a series of focus groups have been
identified and it is very likely that the results from these sessions probably can
represent a larger number of people. We can’t expect focus groups to be
projectable in the same way as quantitative study findings can be. Furthermore,
traditional focus groups can only be held in a few cities, unlike some internet and
telephone focus groups which could be organized in various situations without
limitation of time and location. This also makes data from focus groups less
representative of the total universe.
 

 Focus Groups Are A Very Artificial Environment Which Can Influence

The Responses That Are Generated

This is frequently the argument that ethnographers will use when recommending
their methodology versus focus groups. Because researchers using the
ethnographic technique will situate themselves in the real environment, that is
unreachable for focus groups. In focus groups people are collected in a meeting
room thus they might behave differently from how they behave when they are not
watched and it will effect the quality of research results.