The document provides information about focus group discussions (FGDs), including their purpose, process, logistics, roles of facilitators and note-takers, and analysis. Specifically: FGDs involve bringing together 6-10 people to discuss a topic for 60-90 minutes, guided by a moderator. They allow participants to agree or disagree to provide insights on a group's views. The roles of the facilitator are to guide discussion, ensure participation, and remain neutral/curious. The note-taker fully documents the discussion in structured format. Analysis of FGDs examines responses question-by-question to identify overarching ideas while considering the context, consistency, and specificity of participants'

1. FGD - Focus Group Discussion
Prepared By: Kartik Panchal
Sumaiya Chauhan
Dharmesh Parmar
Presentation Date: 1st Feb 2021

2. Focus Group Discussion
 A focus group discussion (FGD) is a good way to gather together people from similar backgrounds
or experiences to discuss a specific topic of interest. The group of participants is guided by a
moderator (or group facilitator) who introduces topics for discussion and helps the group to
participate in a lively and natural discussion amongst themselves.
 The strength of FGD relies on allowing the participants to agree or disagree with each other so that
it provides an insight into how a group thinks about an issue, about the range of opinion and ideas,
and the inconsistencies and variation that exists in a particular community in terms of beliefs and
their experiences and practices.
 FGDs can be used to explore the meanings of survey findings that cannot be explained statistically,
the range of opinions/views on a topic of interest and to collect a wide variety of local terms.

3. To find solutions
to problems
To deepen understanding of
quantitative data
To explore differences
and commonalities
To investigate group
attitudes and beliefs
To generate ideas at the
exploratory stage
To investigate complex
ideas and behaviors
When there is believed to be
difference in power between the
researcher and participants
Why FGD

4. Process of FGD
Decide whether focus
groups are appropriate
Decide whom to involve:
Identify the type of
respondents required as
per study
Select moderator and
Field teams
Develop facilitators guide
and format for recording
responses
Train field team
Conduct FGD in suitable
and comfortable
environment
Listen to your target
audience and take notes
Transcribe, analyse and
interpret responses

5. Size and Length of the FGD
 The ideal size for a FGD is 6-10 people, and if there're more then not everyone will have
the chance to provide proper input.
 A FGD should be between 60 and 90 minuets. If the FGD is shorter then 60 minutes, it is
often difficult to fully explore the discussion topic and it its longer than 90 minutes, the
discussion can become unproductive.

6. Creating the Questionnaire
 It is important to take time to carefully plan your questions. Poorly-worded, biased, or awkward
questions can derail a FGD and spoil the quality of your data.
 Keep the number of questions reasonable (under 10, if possible). This prevents the participants
from getting confused or worn out by a long discussion.
 Keep the questions simple and short. FGD participants won’t get the chance to see the questions
like in a survey.
 Ensure that the wording on questions is clear. Otherwise, participants will end up discussing the
question itself, rather than what the question was trying to ask.
 Be careful that questions about sensitive issues or topics are asked carefully. Otherwise, the FGD
will stop just because people are too embarrassed to answer.
 Make sure that questions are worded in a way that cannot be answered with a simple “Yes” or
“No” answer. Using words like “Why” and “How” will help elicit better responses from
participants.

7. Question Types
There should be three types of questions in a focus group discussion:
 Probe questions: these introduce participants to the discussion topic and make them feel more
comfortable sharing their opinion with the group.
Example: How often do you attend our programs?
What is your favorite program?
 Follow-up questions: delve further into the discussion topic and the participants’ opinions.
Example: What influences whether you attend a program?
If we were to close a program, which one should we close and why?
 Exit question: check to ensure that you didn’t miss anything.
Example: Is there anything else you’d like to say about our programs?

8. Our Role
Facilitator
An FGD facilitator, who is responsible for introducing the FGD to all participants,
guiding the discussions, facilitating participation, ensuring that the most important
topics are covered considering the time available, and finally closing the
discussion.
Note Taker
A note taker, who is responsible for capturing the discussion, and later on elaborating on the notes and
turning them into an electronic version. A recording device can be used by the note-taker
(not as replacement to the note taking, but as complementary), in which case,
participants should always be informed and asked for permission.

9. Facilitator
Role of Facilitator
 Stay curious: do not presume you know what will be said in discussion. That would hinder capturing
and pursuing new things coming up, and you will only document what you expect to hear.
 Facilitate participation: strive to include all participants in the discussion, e.g. direct questions to
individuals, who are not talking, and stir away from others, who are too talkative, by involving the
whole group again.
 Be flexible: follow the discussion and adjust the questions by navigating freely around the topics; do
not feel bound to the question guide thus interrupting the natural flow of the talks.
 Coordinate with the note taker: make sure the pace of the discussion is aligned with the note taker;
discussion is not worth much if not documented properly.
 Do not harm: keep in mind ethical consideration when bringing up sensitive topics.
 Be neutral: do not convey your own perceptions and don’t correct the informants, as there are no right
or wrong answers. Even if someone says something which factually is wrong, leave it up to the group
to correct, if they see it fit (factually wrong data are also data).

10.  Be patient: do not finish people’s sentences and don’t interrupt. Leave as much silence and pause as
is needed for the group to think.
 Do not guess: ask for clarifications whenever needed, don’t guess what was meant if you are not
sure.
 Clarify terminology: make sure that all participants have a common understanding of any terms or
phrases coming up.
 Probe: when necessary, ask participants to elaborate and encourage views by more people. (e.g. could
you better explain in more detail? Can you give us an example? Does anyone have a different
experience to share?)
 Synthesize: try to guide the discussion beyond the individuals contributions by participants, by
encouraging others to comment and build on the views presented. Thereby you can capture the
collective thoughts and obtain some consensus around opinions and perspectives. This is, however,
not always possible, or desirable, as disagreement is always very welcomed.

11. Note Taker
How to take Notes?
 Document the source: All documented data should be linked to their source.
 Use a well-structured reporting format enabling you to incorporate all important discussion
elements in an effective manner.
 Do write full sentences and not just key words, as they will be difficult to contextualize and interpret
later on.
 If more lines of discussion are going on, try to follow one, so as not to have incomplete notes on many
discussion lines.
 Do intervene and coordinate with the facilitator, if the pace is too fast, if too many discussions have
erupted, or if something is unclear.
 Elaborate on the notes as fast as possible after the end of the FGD, to make sure that all is captured,
before the details are forgotten.
 Take notes in the language spoken during the FGD. Translation should take place later on.
 Triangulate: Participate in the debriefing after each FGD in order to share your understanding of the
discussions and edit the notes according to the combined understanding and memories of you and the
facilitator.

12. Analysis
 Examine one question at a time
 Consider the words
 Consider the context
 Consider the internal consistency
 Consider the intensity of comments
 Consider the specificity of responses
 Find the big ideas
 Consider the purpose of the report

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