Focus Group Facilitation Training

Course duration: 1 day

Overview

Focus groups can provide a range of useful information at various stages from project inception, right through to implementation. Ideally representation will be present from all the potential audiences that have been targeted, and at the beginning of a project such groups can be convened to assist with designing, assessing or refining objectives.

Typically focus groups discover what participants know or feel about an issue, what they think they need, and how they envisage using the service or participating in the initiative. When producing plans or materials, focus groups can comment on the design and clarity of rough versions, evaluating their usability for the intended customer group and suggesting revisions. The data you gather can also suggest strategies for distributing the materials to your audience.

This Focus Group Facilitation workshop offers a broad and practical introduction to the topic, and will be adapted to suit an organisation's specific requirements.

Learning 2XL also has experience of either fully facilitating or assisting with the facilitation of focus groups on behalf of clients within the Public Sector. Please get in touch if you would like assistance in this area.

Subject Areas Covered

Identify purpose and audience. The importance of reaching clarity and agreement to ensure that the desired outcome is both measurable and reached. Includes the potential development of a screener document and the importance of selecting the correct questions to ask to achieve the desired results.

Recruiting participants. How to reach as wide an audience as is needed and practical including hard-to-reach groups. Signing up and confirming participants and ensuring that they attend.

The role of the facilitator. Defining facilitation and the facilitator needs to achieve. Pitfalls for facilitators to fall in to and what they should not do if they are to achieve results.

Focus group preparation. Developing discussion guides, setting parameters and guidelines and planning session logistics.

Post meeting. How to debrief informally and analyse notes (and/or recordings). Writing a focus group report that contains all the necessary details but is not too unwieldy.

What Next? Delegates will be encouraged to discuss their own unique circumstances and what they have learned and capture how they will use this back in the workplace.

Who Should Attend Focus Group Facilitation Training?

Any individual who is tasked with either successfully organising and/or facilitating a focus group.

if you would like more information about Focus Group facilitation Training, please contact us.