How to Effectively Conduct a Focus Group Discussion: 8 Simple Steps

Here are eight simple and practical steps that can help you run a successful Focus Group Discussion (FGD).

1. Clarify the Purpose

Before anything else, you need to be crystal clear on why you’re conducting the focus group. What specific insights or information are you hoping to gather? For instance, are you trying to learn more about how healthcare workers have been coping since the COVID-19 pandemic? Or maybe you’re looking to explore the challenges faced by Intensive Care Unit (ICU) doctors after a recent survey. Defining the purpose will guide the rest of your focus group planning process.

Tip: Write down your purpose in one or two sentences so that it’s easy to stay on track!

2. Draft Key Research Questions

Now that you’ve nailed down the purpose, it’s time to start thinking about the research or evaluation questions. These are the big-picture questions that your FGD will aim to answer. For example, “How have healthcare workers been impacted by the pandemic over time?” Remember, these are not the questions you’ll ask participants directly but rather the guiding questions that will shape your session.

Tip: Think broad but specific. Make sure the questions are directly aligned with your goal.

3. Develop Protocols and Guidelines

Every well-conducted FGD needs structure. This is where developing protocols comes in. These include a moderator’s guide and a focus group guide. The moderator’s guide should outline the skill set, code of behavior, and roles of the moderator and assistant moderator. On the other hand, the focus group guide should contain participant questions and a strategy for how and when those questions will be asked.

Example: You might organize your questions in a logical flow, starting from general to more specific to help participants ease into the discussion.

4. Recruit Participants

The next step is to get people to join your FGD. Depending on your focus group’s purpose, you can use different recruitment strategies such as nominations, open calls, or random selection. You’ll also need to decide whether you want a homogeneous group (people with similar characteristics) or a heterogeneous group (a mix of different backgrounds).

Tip: A well-chosen participant group can make all the difference. If you’re discussing a sensitive topic, consider a smaller, more homogeneous group to encourage openness.

5. Conduct the FGD

This is where the real magic happens. With your protocols in place and participants recruited, it’s time to facilitate the discussion. Good moderation is key here. Encourage participation, keep the conversation on track, and make sure everyone gets a chance to contribute. Don’t forget to document the session—recording is highly recommended!

Tip: As a moderator, remain neutral and create a relaxed environment so participants feel comfortable sharing their honest thoughts.

6. Debrief Immediately After

Once the FGD wraps up, it’s important to debrief while everything is still fresh. Gather the moderator, observers, and evaluators to exchange insights from the session. This is also the time to document any additional thoughts or impressions that might not have been openly discussed during the FGD.

Tip: Have someone take notes during the debrief to capture everyone’s observations.

7. Analyse the Data

After your FGD, you’ll have collected a lot of qualitative data. Now it’s time to sift through it and spot emerging themes, trends, and patterns. There are several qualitative data analysis tools and software programs you can use to make sense of the data.

Tip: Look for recurring themes and keywords in participants’ responses to draw meaningful insights.

8. Present Your Findings

The final step is to present your findings in a way that is useful to your stakeholders. You can do this in several ways—written reports, oral presentations, or even video formats, depending on what works best for your audience. Remember to present the findings in a clear, concise manner with actionable insights.

Example: If presenting to healthcare administrators, highlight key themes like staff burnout and provide practical recommendations on addressing them.

I will run two interactive webinars for members of my Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Academy on FGDs. If you wish to learn about FGDs and how to conduct them- the right way- you are welcome to join us. Hurry though, as I will close registration soon.?? Register here: https://lnkd.in/ekVrMJmx