This master-class gives students a comprehensive understanding of focus group design and moderation. The class establishes the theory and methods of focus group research, it provides techniques for managing challenging groups, and offers participants hands-on experience to ensure smooth and rigorous data collection.
This course is being held 'live' online via zoom. The timetable will be:
- 9.30am -11.00am: session 1
- 11.30am-12.30pm: session 2
- 12:30pm-1.30pm: Lunch
- 1.30pm-3.00pm: session 3
- 3.30pm-4.30pm: session 4
The course will run on Australian Eastern Standard Time (UTC +10)
(Canberra, Sydney Melbourne, Hobart time)
This master-class runs over two days and will provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of how to apply focus group methods for social research. The class will step through the theoretical basis for conducting focus groups, their value and limitations. It will detail how to translate your research questions into an effective discussion guide and how to put that guide into practice using group activities for face-to-face and online groups. The master-class will give participants the opportunity to observe or moderate a mock focus group online, will provide techniques to manage challenging group dynamics, and an overview on the next steps for data analysis.
By the end of this master-class participants will be able to construct a focus group discussion guide to elicit meaningful data; have greater confidence in moderating focus groups, including online delivery; have a range of techniques to ensure smooth moderation; and understand how data can be translated into research findings.
The workshop is relevant to anyone intending to conduct focus groups. This could include experienced researchers, Higher Degree Research students, government or not-for-profit professionals involved in community consultations, or private sector professionals involved in market research or evaluations.
Day 1
- Understanding the benefits and limitations of a group based methodology
- Sample design and group set-up
- Questioning techniques and understanding different types of questions
- Writing your discussion guide
- Activity ideas for stimulating discussion and data
- Project logistics and etiquette
Day 2
- Moderation skills and group dynamics, including for online focus groups
- Understanding and using non verbal cues
- How to manage sensitive issues, challenging participants and group dynamics
- Hands-on experience moderating or participating in a focus group
- Preparing for analysis
This workshop will take place online using Zoom video link.
Participants will need reliable internet access and a computer with a camera.
Participants will require access to MS Word in order to draft a mock discussion guide.
There are no pre-requisites for this course.
It is recommended that participants have a basic understanding of qualitative research.
There is no pre-reading for this course.
This course gave me so much more information than what I was expecting. It is the best workshop I’ve experienced in the past 2 years.
Good focus for material that was timely for some work being completed.
The interactive task at the end of day 1 was a good example to illustrate key ideas learnt.
The course was very information. Colette was a fabulous coordinator. Thank you.