This presentation aims to provide insights into conducting effective focus group discussions, highlighting the process, methodology, best practices, and ethical considerations necessary for generating comprehensive qualitative data and valuable insights.

1.  
Dr. Pradip Kumar Jana

2. Group of 6-12 people with
similar characteristics
Gather to discuss a
focused topic of interest
A trained moderator
guides the discussion
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3. 1. Defining research concept and Developing
hypothesis
2. Generating Vocabularies and Framing
appropriate questions for large scale surveys
3. To obtain a range of perceptions, opinions or
beliefs about an issue
4. Develop appropriate messages for health
education programs
5. Explore controversial topics
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4.  ‘Group" can refer to any
collection of individuals, a
"focus group" is a
specialized research
method involving a small,
targeted group engaged in
structured discussions to
explore specific topics in-
depth for qualitative
research purposes.
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5. 1. People to conduct the discussion
-One facilitator, one recorder,
better if an observer
2. Selection of participants
3. Fix up date, time and place for FGD
4. Prepare a FGD guide
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6.  6-12 willing individuals in a group
 Participants are selected in advance by purposive sampling
 The members are homogenous
 Anonymity of the participants is preferred
 Members of the research team:
a moderator (facilitator), a note-taker & recorder
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8. 1. Hold the FGD in a neutral setting
2. Sitting arrangement should be
circular
3. Moderator at the center
4. Observer / Note taker next to
moderator
5. Make sure that there are no
disturbances
6. Ensure adequate lighting and
ventilation
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9. Subject A Subject B Subject C
Subject G Subject F Subject E
Subject
D
Moderato
r
Observer
Note
taker
Tape
Recorder

10. Subject A Subject B Subject C
Subject G Subject F Subject E
Subject
D
Moderato
r
Observer
Note
taker
Tape
Recorder

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12. Step 1: Formulating the Research
Question and Drafting a FGD guide
Step 2: Operational Planning
Step 3: Sampling and Recruitment
Step 4: Conduct
Step 5: Analysis
Step 6: Publication and Dissemination of
Results
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13.  a good, general and well-framed
research question is essential to the
success of a qualitative study.
Example from our Study:
i) What is the socio-demographic profile
and attitude of study participants working
for household data collection in Kalahandi
district of Odisha?
ii) What are the factors that are affecting
household data collection at primary-level
healthcare facilities its effective use and
the challenges?
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14. o Must provide the moderator with the topic and issues that
are to be covered
o It is loosely structured and does not suggest potential
responses
o The questions should be unstructured, unbiased
o Progression of the topics in the guidelines should be
logical and should move from general to specific topic
o The guide should not have too many questions
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15.  Preparing and developing protocols and informed consent
forms.
 Obtaining official approval of an ethical committee
 Training and instructing assisting staff (e.g. moderator,
minute taker, and observer).
 Planning time and place of an interview and arranging a
venue.
 Arranging and testing technical recording equipment
 Planning recruitment and reimbursement of participants
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16.  ‘Purposive’ Sampling Technique , ‘random’ sampling
is also possible (though not often applied in FGDs)
 The typical size of a focus group discussion is 6 to
12 participants
 A group of only 3 to 4 participants is called a ‘mini
group
 A general rule of the thumb is that the more
experience and knowledge the participants have on
the given subject, the smaller the group could be.
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17. A typical FGD proceeds as follows (Dawson, Manderson,
and Tallo 1993):
 Start the discussion with an ‘ice-breaker’, e.g. a round of
introduction of participants.
 Introduce the main topic and the overall research question
(e.g. orally, on a poster or as a projected presentation).
 Ask specific questions listed in the FGD guide (not
necessarily in the pre-specified order); a skilled moderator will
be able to ensure that all important questions (which may be
photocopied and distributed to the participants) are covered,
without interrupting the natural flow of the discussion.
 Thank participants and say good-bye.
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19.  Transcribing
recorded statements
 Coding the
transcription
 Reviewing memos
 Analyzing and
interpreting
qualitative data
 Establishing validity
and reliability
 Software that facilitate
qualitative analyses
a) Programs that facilitate
transcription, such as
Transcriber
(http://transag.sourceforge.net/,
audio only, freeware) and
Transana(http://www.transana.o
rg/, video and audio.
b) Programs that facilitate
coding and interpretation, such
as MaxQDA, AtlasTI, QDA
Miner
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20. Reporting a qualitative study must comply with fixed quality
standards that enhance rigor and comparability. Two widely
used checklists are
A) COREQ (Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative
Studies) (Tong, Sainsbury, and Craig 2007).
B) RATS (Qualitative Research Review Guidelines) used by
Springer and Biomed Central
https://old.biomedcentral.com/authors/rats.
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21.  Plan and Prepare:
o Clearly define the objectives and topics to be discussed.
o Prepare a structured discussion guide with open-ended questions.
o Select a diverse group of participants with relevant experiences or
perspectives.
 Create a Welcoming Environment:
o Choose a comfortable and neutral venue conducive to open
discussion.
o Start with introductions and create a relaxed atmosphere to build
rapport.
 Moderate Effectively:
o Be an active listener and encourage all participants to contribute.
o Maintain neutrality and avoid expressing personal opinions.
o Keep discussions focused and steer back on topic if needed.
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22.  Encourage Participation:
o Use probing questions to elicit detailed responses.
o Encourage quieter participants to share their thoughts.
o Ensure everyone has an opportunity to speak.
 Record and Analyze:
o Record the session (with consent) for accurate data capture.
o Take notes or use a note-taker to document key points.
o Analyze the data collected for insights and patterns.
 Respect and Confidentiality:
o Respect participants' opinions and diverse viewpoints.
o Assure confidentiality and anonymity for sensitive information
shared.
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23.  Dominate the Discussion:
o Avoid dominating the conversation or imposing personal views.
o Refrain from interrupting or dismissing participants' contributions.
 Lead with Biases:
o Don't steer discussions to validate preconceived ideas.
o Avoid leading questions that might influence responses.
 Allowing One Dominant Voice:
o Prevent one or a few participants from monopolizing the
conversation.
o Ensure an equal opportunity for all to contribute.
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24.  Rushing Through Topics:
o Don't rush through topics or cut discussions short.
o Allow sufficient time for each topic to be explored thoroughly.
 Violating Privacy or Trust:
o Avoid revealing participants' identities or confidential information
shared during the session.
o Respect privacy and don't breach trust by disclosing sensitive
information.
 Ignoring Non-Verbal Cues:
o Pay attention to non-verbal cues (gestures, expressions) to
gauge participant reactions or discomfort.
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