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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. The group of participants is guided by a moderator
(or group facilitator) who introduces topics for discussion and
helps the group to participate in a lively and natural discussion
amongst themselves.
The strength of FGD relies on allowing the participants to agree
or disagree with each other so that it provides an insight into
how a group thinks about an issue, about the range of opinion and
ideas, and the inconsistencies and variation that exists in a particular
community in terms of beliefs and their experiences and practices.
FGDs can be used to explore the meanings of survey findings that
cannot be explained statistically, the range of opinions/views on
a topic of interest and to collect a wide variety of local terms.
In bridging research and policy, FGD can be useful in providing
an insight into different opinions among different parties involved
in the change process, thus enabling the process to be managed more
smoothly. It is also a good method to employ prior to designing
questionnaires.
Detailed Outline of the Process
FGD sessions need to be prepared carefully through
identifying the main objective(s) of the meeting, developing key
questions, developing an agenda, and planning how to record the
session. The next step is to identify and invite suitable discussion
participants; the ideal number is between six and eight.
The crucial element of FGD is the facilitation. Some important
points to bear in mind in facilitating FGDs are to ensure even participation,
careful wording of the key questions, maintaining a neutral attitude
and appearance, and summarising the session to reflect the opinions
evenly and fairly. A detailed report should be prepared after the
session is finished. Any observations during the session should
be noted and included in the report.
FGDs can be also done online. This is particularly useful for overcoming
the barrier of distance. While discussion is constrained, the written
format can help with reporting on the discussion.
Further Information
A simple and useful starting point, with a basic
description of the use and methodology of FGD for project evaluation
purposes, can be seen at: www.ucc.ie/hfrg/projects/respect/urmethods/focus.htm
Textbooks for conducting FGD are available, such as:
- Krueger, R.A. (1988) Focus Groups: A practical guide
for applied research. Sage, UK.
- Morgan, D.L. (1988) Focus Group as qualitative research.
Sage, UK.
- Stewart, D.W. and Shamdasani, P.N. (1990) Focus
Groups: Theory and Practices. Sage, UK.
There are a number of sites that provide detailed step-by-step
guides on how to conduct FGD for research and education purposes.
These include:
For a guide to focus group applications in marketing and social
science see:
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