FOCUS GROUP DISCUSSION

Cheska May B. Pamintuan

&
Melecio Jacaban, Jr.
 What is a Focus Group
Discussion?

A focus group discussion (FGD) is:

 a method of qualitative research;

 a multi-dimensional
communication process.
 Purpose

 Is to obtain information about a

group’s beliefs and attitudes on a
particular issue or problem.

 To allow interaction among all the

members of the group.

 To permit participants to give

detailed opinions on a topic.
Focus Group Discussion (FGD)

 Brings 6-12 people together for a discussion

on a specific topic.

 It lasts for one or two hours

 The participants usually have some

characteristics in common; such as gender
and age.
 Aim of focus groups
Focus groups are used to:

 gain understanding of the subject being

researched

 provide an accurate picture of the subject’s

experience of reality

 evaluate and analyze needs

 improve existing programs

 test new ideas or programs

Focus group discussion
guide

 Specify the objectives and

information needs of the focus group
discussion.

 Break down the major topics into

discussion points or themes.

 Prepare probe questions

 Review the guide and eliminate any

irrelevant questions
Asking questions during focus groups.

 Open‐ended questions

 Dichotomous questions
 Strengths of focus
group

 the comments of one participant

can generate comments from
other participants.  

 Researchers and interviewers can

benefit from the ideas generated
in these discussions.  
 Weaknesses of Focus
Group Discussion
• The researcher has less control of
the flow of the group discussion
unlike the individual interview

• The number of questions that

should be ask to the participants
are lesser compared to individual
interview
• Conducting a focus group discussion requires
skills for the conductor to control the flow of the
conversation

• The result of the conversation is hard to analyze,

it takes time to fully analyze the views of the
participants
MANAGING FOCUS GROUP

 Less experienced moderator can do the following things

whenever he/she can’t control the group discussion

 Asking a questions that they show that they already

know the answer

 Asking a questions without even thinking

 Asking a question without giving opportunity to the

participants to respond to the previous one;
 Interrupting the participants in the middle of
conversation leaving no chance for the
participants to finish what they were saying;

 Giving suggestion to participants about what

they must do;
 Quality of a Good
Facilitator
 Familiar with the topic or theme

 Has the ability to speak language

spoken of the area
 Politeness

 Empathy

 respect for participants for both men

and women