Focus groups are a valuable method of gathering qualitative data and insights from your target audience. But as a moderator, you need to keep your skills updated and learn from other professionals in the field. How do you do that? Here are some tips to help you stay on top of your game and improve your focus group performance.
One of the best ways to learn from other moderators is to join online communities and forums where you can exchange ideas, tips, challenges, and feedback. You can find groups on social media platforms, such as LinkedIn or Facebook, or on dedicated websites, such as Quirks or FocusVision. These communities can help you network, find mentors, and access resources and training opportunities.
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Another way to keep your skills updated and learn from other moderators is to attend webinars and workshops that cover topics related to focus group design, facilitation, analysis, and reporting. You can find online or in-person events hosted by professional associations, such as the Qualitative Research Consultants Association (QRCA), or by reputable research agencies, such as Ipsos or Schlesinger. These events can help you learn new techniques, tools, and best practices, as well as ask questions and interact with experts.
If you prefer to learn at your own pace and in your own time, you can also read books and blogs that offer insights and advice on focus group moderation. Some of the books you can check out are Focus Groups: A Practical Guide for Applied Research by Richard A. Krueger and Mary Anne Casey, Moderating Focus Groups by Thomas L. Greenbaum, and The Focus Group Kit by David L. Morgan and Richard A. Krueger. Some of the blogs you can follow are Research Rockstar, QualBlog, and Qualitative Research Café.
One of the most important ways to keep your skills updated and learn from other moderators is to conduct self-evaluation after each focus group session. You can review your notes, recordings, transcripts, and reports, and identify what went well and what could be improved. You can also ask for feedback from your clients, colleagues, or participants, and use it to refine your skills and style. You can also use a focus group moderator checklist to assess your performance and set goals for your next session.
Another way to keep your skills updated and learn from other moderators is to seek peer review from other professionals who can offer constructive criticism and suggestions. You can ask a fellow moderator to observe your session, or share your recordings, transcripts, or reports with them, and ask for their opinion and tips. You can also offer to do the same for them, and create a mutual learning opportunity. You can find peer reviewers through online communities, webinars, workshops, or professional associations.
Finally, one of the most fun and creative ways to keep your skills updated and learn from other moderators is to experiment with new methods and approaches that can enhance your focus group sessions. You can try different types of questions, probes, activities, stimuli, or formats, and see how they affect the quality and quantity of data and insights you collect. You can also explore new technologies, such as online platforms, apps, or devices, that can facilitate your moderation and analysis. You can learn from your own experience and from the feedback of your clients and participants.
Consider asking to shadow or support an experienced facilitator or moderated whose work you respect and whom you're interested in learning from. Logistics and confidentiality issues are rarely insurmountable and the firsthand experience you gain from working directly with an experienced and savvy colleague can not only enhance your toolkit of resources and facilitation moves, but also shift and expand your own mindsets about yourself, your role, and your approach to your work.