Focus group discussion

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1. FOCUS GROUP DISCUSSION

2. Group discussion Very effective method of health communication. Exchange knowledge, ideas and opinions. not less than 6 and not more than 12.

3. Preparing for the Session Identify the major objective of the meeting. Carefully develop five to six questions. Plan your session. Call potential members to invite them to the meeting.

4. Planning the Session Scheduling. Setting and Refreshments . Ground Rules. Membership . Plan to record the session with either an audio or audio-video recorder. Collect useful information to meet goal of meeting.

5. Ground Rules Express ideas clearly & concisely. Listen to what others say. Do not interrupt when others are speaking. Make only relevant remarks. Accept criticism gracefully. Help to reach conclusions.

6. Focus groups? (Ernest Ditcher) A focus group is a form of qualitative research . Group discussion, conducted several times until similar trends and patterns in perception, attitudes, ideas are shown. Focus groups rely on interaction within the group based on topics that are supplied by the researcher.

7. A good group discussion.

8. Advantages E asy to set up. Fast and relatively inexpensive. Stimulates dialogue and new ideas ( chaining/cascade effect ) opportunity for disclosure among similar . Generates ideas for evaluation questions to be included in other survey methods. Very flexible. Socially oriented “synergism”. “Snowballing” of ideas.

9. Limitations Focus groups vary (talkative, quiet, dull). Deviates from the subject. Shy. Some may dominate. Can’t generalize to the target population. Discussion must be in an environment conducive to conversation. observer dependency Difficult to assemble. Capturing major issues can be difficult

10. Dominated group

11. Uses Planning program design. Generate information for questionnaires. Pilot programs. Testing programs currently used. Follow-up of a mail survey. Changing attitudes & health behaviour of people.

12. THANK YOU!