This document proposes a new approach to conducting rapid focus groups using mobile devices and cloud-based software. The approach involves participants providing initial ideas in response to a question, which are displayed as bubbles. Participants can then vote on the most important ideas, merge similar ideas, and add comments. The software would consolidate the ideas and allow the most popular ones to be examined in more depth. It aims to generate a report quickly based on the inputted information and discussion. This new approach aims to make focus groups more efficient while capturing qualitative data for analysis and reporting.

1. Thought Cloud
Social research software idea:
Rapid Focus groups
Andrew Walsh

2. Current approach
• Trying to work out a quick
way of doing focus group
as people I work with
have limited time
• Currently using mind
mapping approach as
described by:
•
•
Burgess-Allen, J. & Owen-Smith, V. 2010. Using mind mapping
techniques for rapid qualitative data analysis in public
participation processes. Health Expectations, 13, 406-415.
Meier, P. S. 2007. Mind-mapping : a tool for eliciting and
representing knowledge held by diverse informants. Social
research Update.
• It works but it’s a bit
cumbersome
I transcribe
original mind
map into mind
genius & add
audio recorded
notes.

3. Idea : The basics
• Participants asked to
contribute ideas around an
initial set question i.e.
“What are your feelings
about”.. this
course/campus/your
experience as a carer/ the
care you received etc
• Participants use iPhone,
iPad, PC, Laptop etc to
feedback ideas
• Ideas appear on screen as
bubbles as participants add
initial responses
expense
Don't
know
much
about it
Too far
away
Cant
afford it
(i.e. Initial question
might be why don't
you use X)
Unfriendly
People
say it
doesn't
work

4. Basics cont’d
• After initial ideas
collected – operator
consolidates ideas
• If there are a lot of
them – ask participants
to help by suggesting
mergers
expense
Don't
know
much
about it
Too far
away
Cant
afford it
i.e. ‘expense’ &
‘Can’t afford it can
be merged - swipe to
merge or just delete
one?
Unfriendly
People
say it
doesn't
work

5. Voting round
• Researcher now asks
people to click on 2 or 3
ideas that most interest
them or seem to be the
most important
Expense/
cant afford it
Don't
know
much
about it
Too far
away
People
say it
doesn't
work
Unfriendly

6. Clouds begin to form
• Now we see more
‘popular’ or interesting
ideas float to the top &
less interesting ideas
sink.

7. Examine ideas
• Operator can then select
most prominent ideas for
attention.
• Ask group to direct focus
‘I would like you to
consider this idea in more
depth’
• People can click on
bubble & add comments
into text entry box that
will appear
“I think £30.00 is too
much”
“Down the road its
only £25”
“I agree with that –
this is not value for
money”
etc.
(i.e. As ideas get
added to cloud it
changes shape/
becomes more
complex?)
Comments become
associated with
bubble so that
anyone clicking on it
can see them & add
ideas if they want to

8. Other input?
•
•
•
•
Once operator has worked through
all of the initial ideas – allow people
to select ideas and add their own
thoughts
Encourage participants to add
emoticons to comments
e.g. If an idea attracts a lot of anger
cloud can become red?
If an idea is attracting a lot of
comment &/or emotion it could
vibrate or give out waves of energy?

9. Reporting
• Possible to go through as
many rounds of feedback/
adding comments as time
allows.
• Alternately, focus group
could be put online &
people add ideas over a
longer period?
• Also possible to have mix of
face to face and online
participants
• Once enough data collected
then report can be
generated
Report
20 people contributed
5 main ideas emerged
75% of participants felt that expense
was the most important factor.
People were most angry about the fact
that X is too far away from them.
Expense
Comments received were
“comment 1”
Comment 2 etc
Advantage of this is that rough data could
be available within minutes of focus group completion
How much could a report be auto generated
from information inputted?
i.e. Table of contents, pages of report based most
prominent ideas etc.?
Also graphs could be auto generated