When hosting a focus group it is useful to consider:
- what questions are relevant to answers your research goal
- whether this group of individuals will be able to provide answers to the questions posed
- who would be the best person to moderate the focus group
- how confidentiality will be maintained
- whether or not you plan to audio / video record, the impact of recording and how / if you can gain participant agreement to being recorded
- when and where you will hold the focus group
- how many people you will have in each group and how you will recruit participants (e.g., snowball sampling, random sampling etc.)
For detailed guidance and tips on hosting focus groups check out the following resources:
Western University Centre for Teaching and Learning – Conducting Focus Groups for Curriculum Review and Improvement
University of British Columbia Flexible Learning Initiative – Conducting Focus Groups: A Summary of Best Practices and Supports
Designing and Conducting Focus Group Interviews