Applied Qualitative Research: Focus Groups

Instructors: Greg Guest & Emily Namey
Lectures: 4 hours
Lifetime Access: Materials never expire
Evergreen Content: Continually updated

Class Overview Video

Professional: $259
Student: $199

Savings Opportunity: Get more content and save up to $200 with our Applied Qualitative Research Bundle

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Category: Asynchronous, Workshops

This workshop covers focus groups (FGs) from an applied perspective. It begins with an overview of this qualitative method, including when and when not to use, as well as the overall rationale for incorporating focus groups into a research study. After reviewing the fundamentals of research design, this course covers the essential elements of defining a study population, selecting an effective sampling strategy, and estimating an appropriate sample size for a focus group study. Participants will learn all of the key steps to designing a successful FG guide, including best practices and examples on guide structure and flow, along with techniques to ensure the guide both engages study participants and informs a study’s research questions. The workshop then transitions into the art and science of conducting a focus group. Participants will learn a range of techniques to enhance the likelihood of success while managing and conducting focus groups and have the option to watch a demonstration FG. The roles of a moderator and assistant are discussed, along with considerations and tips for documenting the FG and, more generally, best practices for qualitative data management. Participants will learn the importance of using a transcription protocol and be provided with a template they can use and adapt for their own research. The final section of the workshop addresses the increasingly important topic of conducting FGs using digital platforms and presents participants with empirical data to help choose if, and what type of, remote interview modality is appropriate. An optional online FG video excerpt is available to illustrate key points.

The workshop is comprised of lectures and self-paced hands-on exercises. Examples throughout are drawn from both domestic and international research contexts.

Note: This workshop is part of our Applied Qualitative Research Pathway that includes Foundations, In-Depth Interviews, Focus Groups, and Thematic Analysis. Lifetime access to all four workshops, consisting of 17 hours of lectures and extensive support materials, can be obtained at a significant savings ($200 for professionals, $150 for students) through our Applied Qualitative Research Bundle.

3:22 Materials Provided / 4:11 Class Content / 8:04 Learning Objectives

Instructors

Greg Guest, Ph.D.

Greg Guest is a researcher and educator with more than 20 years of experience across government, non-profit, corporate, and academic settings. Greg has devoted much of his career to teaching, writing, and building institutional capacity in research methodology. In addition to teaching research methods, Dr. Guest provides consultation throughout all stages of applied mixed methods and qualitative research projects ([email protected]). Read More

Emily Namey, M.A.

Emily Namey is a qualitative research methodologist with 20 years’ experience designing and implementing mixed methods research and evaluations. Her work has largely focused on health and development. She has a specific interest in improving the evidence base for qualitative research methodology. Read More

Workshop Details

Goals of the Workshop

Our motivating goal is to provide an interactive and engaging experience as we journey through the elements of focus group research in an applied research context. Our workshop is designed to provide participants with the materials and instruction needed to design and implement a focus group research study, and to apply what they’ve learned to their own projects.

At the end of this course, participants will be able to:

Describe what a focus group is (and is not)
Explain the rationale for choosing focus groups as a method, particularly in comparison with individual interviewing
Outline an effective FG composition, including size
Select an appropriate sampling strategy for a FG study
Estimate the sample size needed for a FG study (i.e., number of groups), based on a study’s objectives
Craft an effective focus group guide
Conduct a successful focus group that generates data relevant to a study’s research question(s)
Explain the importance of documentation and data management in qualitative research
Design a transcription protocol for a focus group study
Compare different online modalities for conducting focus groups

Who Should Attend

This workshop is intended for researchers at all levels who wish to gain an understanding of how to design, implement, and document a FG-based research study. There are no pre-requisites for this workshop. However, we recommend interested individuals view our completely free Foundations of Applied Qualitative Research workshop prior to this course to provide an epistemological and theoretical orientation for the more practical, hands-on, qualitative workshops.

Syllabus

Chapter 1: Designing a Focus Group Study
1.1 Introduction to Workshop and to Focus Groups
1.2 Selecting Participants for Focus Group Studies
1.3 Saturation and Sample Size

Chapter 2: Planning a Focus Group
2.1 Focus Group Logistics
2.2 Creating a Focus Group Guide
2.3 Supplemental Focus Group Activities

Chapter 3: Conducting Focus Groups
3.1 Roles and Tasks
3.2 Conducting the FG
3.3 FG Documentation and Data Management

Chapter 4: Remote Focus Group Variations
4.1 Remote Focus Group Variations
4.2 Wrapping Up

What is Provided

Participants receive lifetime access to all course materials, including complete course notes and lecture recordings. You can revisit these materials any time you like, without worrying about expiration dates. Pretty awesome, huh?

Content for this class is evergreen, meaning participants will always have access to the most current version of the course materials. Thus, if we revise materials or update recordings, you will have immediate access to the most current content without needing to re-enroll in the class. Even more awesome.

Availability of Recordings

Certificate of Completion

After enrollment, you will have the option to generate a certificate of completion which will display your first and last name (as indicated in your user account), the name of the workshop, and the date upon which the certificate was generated. It can be printed to a PDF and will also be stored in the your user account for future access (after logging in to your account, select My Certificates from the user menu). Heck, you can even print out a hard copy and frame it to impress your friends.

Sample Content

Tuition Support for Students

We offer reduced-price registrations for undergraduate and graduate students who are actively enrolled in a recognized bachelor's, master's or doctoral training program. No application is necessary to qualify for the student tuition rates; simply choose the student rate when beginning the registration process at the top of the page. Confirmation of student status may be requested at a later time.

Reviews

Emily and Greg were engaging and provided concrete applied examples, activities, and content. I feel like I came away with concrete skills and methods that I can apply to my own work. I really enjoyed the workshop and am happy that CenterStat is offering this as an option.

I really liked all of the applied components, demos, working in groups, practicing, etc. It made me feel much more connected to the material and to everyone else in the workshop, which I feel like is often missing from online workshops.

This was a great overview for people who have no previous experience with qualitative data. It was a soft approach that showed a wide variety of possibilities. Very positive, respectful and inspiring. Everything was very clear and organized.

This is the most interactive online workshop I have ever attended. It kept me very engaged, motivated to learn, and excited to apply techniques and discuss with the group. Greg and Emily are very knowledgeable, passionate, and eager to share their knowledge with attendees. They are fantastic at answering questions promptly, and they made the entire experience conversational, interactive, and exciting.

Emily and Greg did a fabulous job! They took a lot of time to answer attendee questions throughout, and it was helpful that they adapted the material (and time spent on the material) as they went depending on what people were most confused about or wanted the most information about.