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FOCUS GROUPS
in Local Legislation
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At the end of this session, we should be able to:
Define what are focus groups?
Enumerate the Advantages of using focusgroups?
Enumerate the common steps in conductingfocus groups?
Objectives
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Among the tools of effective governance are beingconsultative and participatory.
- Committee hearings
- Public hearings
- Interviews
- Focus groups
The legislative cycle
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Focus groups provides a venue to
understand the opinions and
reactions of the different
stakeholders in relation to an
existing and new or alternativepolicies.
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What are the common steps in
conducting focus groups?I. PLANNING PHASE
(CONCEPTUALIZATION PHASE)
a. Identify the objectives of conducting a focusgroup session
b. Develop questions to be asked during the
focus group session
c. Identify and select participants to the focusgroup session
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What are the common steps in
conducting focus groups?
II. CONDUCTING PHASE
(BRAINSTORMING PHASE)
III. ANALYZING AND PRESENTINGRESULTS
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a. Identify the objectives of conducting the focusgroup session.
What do we want to attain at the end of thefocus group session?
I. Planning Phase
Consider information needs: who will use it? What
information is needed? Why is it needed?
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b. Develop questions to be asked during thefocus group session
What should we ask our participants?
Before conducting focus groups, give thoughtto the questions or topics to be discussed -
five to six questions
I. Planning Phase
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c. Identify and select participants to the focusgroup
Selecting participants is critically important.
I. Planning Phase
PURPOSIVE SAMPLING TECHNIQUE
- Social and cultural groups
- Gender- Age
- Government, non-government, privatesectors
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c. Identify and select participants to the focusgroup
SIZE AND NUMBER OF GROUPS
- Too few participants per group fewer thanfour limits the discussion, while too many
more than ten
restricts the time forparticipants to contribute.
IDEALLY
6 to 10 members per group - 3 to 5 groups
I. Planning Phase
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c. Identify and select participants to the focusgroup
STEPS:
1. Call your potential participants and obtaintheir commitment.
2. Send them a follow-up invitation with theproposed agenda, session time and anoverview on what the group will be discussing.
I. Planning Phase
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c. Identify and select participants to the focusgroup
STEPS:
3. About three days before the session, calleach member to remind them to attend.
I. Planning Phase
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a. Scheduling/Time availability - Plan meetings tobe 1 to 1.5 hours long.
b. Venue - Hold sessions in a conference room, orother setting with adequate air flow andlighting.
Additional Checklist
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c. Seat Plan - Configure chairs so that allmembers can see each other.
d. IDs - Provide name tags for members, as well.
e. Snacks/Lunch - Provide refreshments,especially box lunches if the session is held
over lunch.
Alcohol should never be provided.
Additional Checklist
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f. Ground Rules - It's critical that all membersparticipate as much as possible, yet thesession move along while generating usefulinformation.
Additional Checklist
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Additional Checklist
g. Agenda - Consider the following agenda:
1. Welcome
2. Review of agenda3. Review of goal of the meeting
4. Review of ground rules
5. Introductions
6. Questions and Answers
7. Wrap up/Closing the Agenda
Always carry out the agenda!!!
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h. Recording - Plan to record the session witheither an audio or audio-video recorder.
Additional Checklist
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II. Conducting Phase
The Focus Group
1. Focus Group Facilitator or Moderator
2. The Secretary / Note-taker3. The Group Members
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II. Conducting Phase
1. Focus Group Facilitator or Moderator
Moderators play a key role in the success of
focus groups.
Moderators should have characteristics thatare similar to participants and be skilled in
group processes.
The major goal of facilitation is tocollect useful information to meet the
goal of meeting.
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II. Conducting Phase
The Focus Group
2. The Secretary / Note-taker
To gain some confidence and familiarity withthe process, a less experienced researchermight initially take the role of note-taker while
a more experienced researcher takes the roleof moderator.
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III. Analyzing and Presenting Results
1. Transcribing the audio-recording.
When a detailed comparison of groups is to be
undertaken full transcripts may be necessary.
2. Ensure the quality of the transcripts byreading and rereading the transcripts.
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III. Analyzing and Presenting Results
3. Margin Coding
4. Summarize all main points/observations and
identify central themes/key words.
5. Prepare your proposed resolution or ordinancebased on the data gathered and summarized.
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III. Analyzing and Presenting Results
Analysis begins during the first focus group.
- Kruger
Since there is always a richness of material,analyzing focus group discussions can be astime-consuming as it is interesting.
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Advantages of using Focus Groups Takes advantage of the fact that people
naturally interact and are influenced by others.
Provide data more quickly and at lower costthan if individuals interviewed separately;groups can be assembled on shorter notice.
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Advantages of using Focus Groups Generally requires less preparation and is
comparatively easy to conduct.
Researcher can interact directly withrespondents (allows clarification, follow-upquestions, probing).
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Advantages of using Focus Groups Very flexible; can be used with wide range of
topics, individuals, and settings.
Results are easy to understand.
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IV. PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT
END.