Focus Groups in Health Research – Just the Basics

Focus groups are a commonly used qualitative data collection technique with many applications. Novice researchers often make the assumption that a focus group is nothing more than a group conversation, underestimating the skill it takes to facilitate an effective focus group. A researcher engaging in focus groups is interested in participants’ ideas, interpretations, feelings, actions and circumstances. This webinar covers the basic considerations needed for researchers interested in using focus groups in their studies.

Following this webinar, participants will be able to:

1. Describe the characteristics of a focus group
2. Understand when to use and not to use a focus group
3. Understand focus group question categories
4. Give examples of open-ended questions and probes
5. Understand how to design, implement and moderate a focus group
6. Describe the best type of research questions to use in a focus group
7. Understand the basics of analyzing focus group data
8. Describe multiple ways a researcher can incorporate focus groups into a study design

Pre-Work Recommendations:

Spend time exploring the following:

• Please view : Rural PREP Research Webinar: Qualitative Inquiry for Rural Programs
• Read this example of a study that utilizes focus groups:Pullen, E & Oser, C. Barriers to Substance Abuse Treatment in Rural and Urban Communities: Counselor Perspectives. Substance Use & Misuse, 49:891–901, 2014 Copyright C 2014 Informa Healthcare USA, Inc. ISSN: 1082-6084 print / 1532-2491 online DOI: 10.3109/10826084.2014.891615

This product was supported by the Bureau of Health Workforce (BHW), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under cooperative agreement #UH1HP29966. The information, conclusions and opinions expressed in this presentation are those of the authors and no endorsement by BHW, HRSA, or HHS is intended or should be inferred.