January 5, 2015

[FOCUS GROUP DISCUSSION (FGD)]

Chapter 1
1. Focus Group Discussion (FGD)
1.1 Introduction:

FGD is a participatory training approach.

Trainers (Facilitator) try to involve the participants (Trainee) from the 1st stage of
curriculum development to end stage of evaluation of a training program or course.

The procedure can be differ from the trainer to trainer as well as organization to
organization.

The main objective of FGD is to make the participants

o Unfold,
o Self driven learner,
o Focusing into the idea.

FGD is a method of qualitative research and being used by many development

practitioners and social scientists.

1.2 Genesis of Focus Group Discussion (FGD):

It is a qualitative research to gather information from a homogeneous group of people.

In qualitative research, it is necessary to extract peoples o Feeling,
o Attitudes,
o Perceptions,
o Reactions and
o Emotions.

FGD is apparent at large scale of social research varies rapidly and widely.
Main purpose of the FGD is to collect qualitative information that can cover o Human needs,
o Feelings,
o Opinions, etc.
There is no proper guideline to establish FGD as a training method for session conduction
as we perceive.

Table -1: Chronological use of FGD

Year
Place

By

1931

USA

Stuatr A. Rice

1938

USA

F.A. Roethlisberger and W.J.Dicson.

1941

USA

Paul Lazarsfeld and Robert Merton

1942

USA

Carl R. Rogers

1956

USA

Robert K. Metron, Marjorie Fiske and

Patricea L. Kendoll.

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1.3 What is FGD?

This is a social research method to gather qualitative information from a homogeneous

group to address particular issue.

No specific questionnaire is to be used to collect information rather a guideline is to be

followed to conduct an FGD session.

Researcher asks one question and tries to elicit hardnosed information through the
interactions and discussions within the group and after arrival at a consensus the
facilitator raise another relevant question and so on.

1.4 Differences between traditional and FGD method

Subject

Traditional Method

FGD Method

Pattern

Normal Group Discussion

Special type of Group will present

here. It will depend upon the
purpose, size, composition and
procedures.

Member Number

Maximum group members will

present here. Members will be
familiar to each other.

8 12 members will present here.

Members will be unfamiliar to each
other.

Press the
participants

Press participants to vote, plan or

reach consensus.

Do not press participants to vote,

plan and reach consensus.

Methods

Traditional information gathering

method.

Specified method is used here.

Questionnaire

Predetermined questionnaire.

No structured questionnaire.

Characteristics of
choice

Limited choice for respondents.

Open choice.

Persons
Characteristics

Individuals know how they feel.

Group knows how they feel.

Opinion formation

Individuals form opinion.

Groups from opinion.

Outcome

Right answers from respondent.

No right or wrong answers, rather a

lot of suggestions.

1.5 The characteristics of FGD

o Particular Numbers of people
o Who will be focused?
o How many people will be focused? For Data collection.
o People of same characteristic
o Determine people of who are of same characteristics.
o Number of groups can be formed.
o Can be cross checked with other groups.
o Possibility to gather expected information:
o According to objectives, data is to be collected to address specific problems.
o Objective should be specific:
o Objective should be well defined by the researcher.

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1.6 Steps of conducting FGD

For conducting the Focus Group Discussion (FGD), there are some steps
o Setting Objective:
o Firstly, determine the objective.
o Objective should be specific, well defined, etc.
o The participant / group members they must have clear idea.
o Formulation of guideline:
o FGD does not allow preparing any structured questions.
o But a guideline has to follow for systematic and pragmatic discussion.
o It helps conducting the session properly.
o Rigidity should be avoided.
o Flexibility will cover the untouched and ongoing discussion issues which the
participants may raise spontaneously and those may be substantial and
important in the discussion.
o
Group selection
o Group members should be homogeneous.
o This is an important issue for FGD.
o Venue selection:
o It is a pre-requisite for conduction of any session.
o Venue should be
Threatening free,
Noise free,
Free from any outside fracas and
Environmentally sound.
o Seating arrangement should be comfortable.
o Refreshment should be arranged.
o The group members can be seat in U shape sitting arrangement and half
circle.
o Facilitator will set before them.
o The recorder will sit out side of the circle.
o The observer will sit on a place that where from he / she can observe each and
every interaction within the group.
o It is important to make the group members understood that the facilitation
team is also a part of total group.
o Duration of session:
o It would not be more than one hour.
o Maximum one and a half hour.
o Maximum duration of FGD session could be boring to participants.
o Minimum duration may not be helpful to produce optimum data.
o Conduction of session:
o It is very important to haul out expected data.
o The role of the facilitator and recorder should be clear to all.
o Before conducting session FGD sessions, they should be trained up.
o Session conductor should be well equipped and streamlined by the method she
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/ he should take the responsibility of facilitator.

Formation of facilitation team:
o At least three people are needed to form the facilitation team.
o It may vary with respect to some situations
Surrounding situation
Group attitude
Objectives / other factors
o In the facilitation team
First one can act as a facilitator,
Second one act as a reporter and
Third one act as an organizer of the group.

Figure 1: steps of conducting FGD

Setting objectives
Formulation of guidelines
Group selection
Venue selection
Duration of session
Formation of facilitation team
Data processing
Preparation of report
1.7 Types of FGD
There are two types in FGD
I. Organized:
o Group members will be informed.
o Objectives will be informed.
o Group members will decide the time and venue.
II. Spontaneous
o Investigator will determine his objectives.
o He will go to relevant area.
o Gather information to achieve his / her objectives.
1.8 The size of (FGD) group
o It should not be less than 5 and not more than 10 in a group.
o 8 persons is the magic size of group. (Average)

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1.9 The importance of group size

o If number of persons exceeds 8, then suitable venue and convenient time is difficult to
manage.
o It is also difficult to conduct the session smoothly.
o The group size should not be exceeding 8 persons.
1.10 What problem with a large group?
o Sneaky tendency among the group members.
o Everyone cannot enjoy the whole session in same way.
o Difficult to manage convenient time.
o Loose interest in long run.
o Some cultural problem, such as junior cannot give opinion in front of senior.
1.11 What is a homogeneous group?
Some properties related homogeneous group, such as

Same sex:
o The members of the group should have same sex.

The level of age:

o Age group should be same.

Professional background:
o Profession can be taken into consideration.

Same cultural background:

o This criterion will give better result.

A team of same goals, objectives and initiatives:

o These criteria sometimes make a group homogeneous.

Socio economic status:

o It is sometime considered as important criteria for homogeneous group.

Same community or geographical area or nature:

o It is important for homogeneous group.

Same religion:
o It is important for homogeneous group.

Same habit people:

o It is important for homogeneous group.

1.12 Questionnaire or discussion guide:

o It is preferable using the term question guide to discussion guide
1.13 a) Role of moderator:
o Key person.
o Everything depends upon him / her.
o Careful about group feelings and attitude.
o Well communicant and transparent.
o Give a proof to the group as a team member.
o Make members of the group feel easy, free and open to participate.
o Careful about dress, words, style, and cultural aspects.
o Try to make understandable environment.
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b) Role of recorder:
o Keeping record, what people discuss.
o Keep information in the memory.
o Having good listening skill
o Seat outside the circle.
o Record keeping should not continue during the session in front of group members.
o Audio recorder can be used, but there is no need to show it in front of groups.
o Numerical record keeping can be followed here.
c) Role of observer:
o Look in to the group members
Attitude,
Interactions and
Emotional reactions.
o Help Moderator to remember the agenda of FGD.
o Over all observation of Moderator and Recorder.
Important notes:
o Team has the responsibilities to sit together in the office after coming back from the
spot and document the outcome properly.
o The team should not make any delay to document the findings because they can
forget the important points, what was not recorded in the meeting properly.
1.14 What can you do in a FGD?
o Greet the group members cordially.
o Make friendly and congenial atmosphere.
o Be introduced with others in details.
o Present yourself as a member of groups.
o Make the seating environment comfortable.
o Sit with them in same seat.
o Be facilitative.
o Asking a easy discussion.
o Ensure spontaneous participation.
o Encourage the silent people.
o Be normal and natural.
o Be a good listener.
o Avoid irrelevant discussion.
o Control dominant participant tactfully.
o Thank them for fruitful discussion.
1.15 What cannot you do in FGD?
o Do not behave like a boss.
o Do not deals like a teacher.
o Be directive. (give a direction)
o Do not ask irrelevant question.
o Do not hurry.
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o Do not skip any issue.

o Do not create pressure.
o Do not make any artificial move.
o Do not look at watch.
o Do not interrupt any one.
o Do not behave emotionally.
o Do not laugh at them for non sense discussions.
Figure 2: ideal sitting arrangement for FGD

Moderator

Participant

Participant

Participant

Recorder

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Participant

Participant

Participant

Participant Participant

Observer

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Chapter 2
FGD in Training Needs Assessment
Table: - 3 Table for list out needs
SL

The most important

Important

Less important

1.
2.
3.
4.
Table: - 4 Table for prioritizing problems
SL

What problems could be

addressed by themselves

What problems could be

addressed with the help of
the project

What problems could

not be addressed

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
2.1 Sample study design
There are some steps in study design
o Title of the study
o Introduction to the problem
o Review of literature
o Operation definition
o Objective of study
o Assumption
o Rationale of the study
o Limitation of the study
o Source of data
o Methods of data collection
o Population
o Reliability and validity of data
o Data processing and analysis
o Schedule
o Budget
o Reference

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Chapter 3
FGD in Training Evaluation
3.1 elements of training evaluation
There are many elements, which could be investigated in terms of training evaluation. They are
o Training program (Overall)
o Training contents
o Training session
o Training material
o Knowledge level
o Participants performance
o Helping and hindering points
o Training environment
o Training implementation methods
o Trainers team
o Trainers facilitation skill
o Learning points
o Potentialities of the venue
o Lodging and food
o Cost, etc.
Classification of the types of training evaluation

Relational evaluation
o How much the participants like the program?

Learning evaluation
o What principles, facts and techniques were learned?
o What attitudes were changed?

Behavioral evaluation
o What changes in job behavior resulted from the program?

Results evaluation
o What were the tangible results of the program in terms cost, improved quality,
improved quantity, etc.?

Ultimate value evaluation

o It is the apex and seems to be almost meta physical unless the intrinsic value is
seen at individual level rather than organizational level
3.2 study design
Steps in preparing evaluation plan
o Develop objectives
o Determine indicator
o Develop evaluation design
o Determine sampling technique
o Develop guideline
o Collect relevant materials
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o Prepare schedule for data collection

o Plan for data management
o Prepare budget
o Produce report
What is indicator?
Indicator is a performance standard, which is defined according to the objectives to be reached.
Types of indicators:
o Direct indicator
o Indirect indicator
o Qualitative indicator
o Quantitative indicator
o Input indicator
o Process indicator
o Output indicator
o Impact indicator

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Chapter 4
Sampling
4.1 A chart on sampling method:
Sampling
Probability
a) Sample Random
b) Complex Random
- Systematic
- Stratified
- Cluster
- Area
- Multi phased
- Repetitive

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Non probability
- Judgment
- Quota
- Accidental
- Networking
- Out cropping
- Advertising
- Extensive Sampling

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Chapter 5
Reporting
5.1 Structure of report
1. Cover Page
a) Title of the study
b) Authors name
c) Month and year
d) Name of the organization
2. Preface chapter
a) Preface
b) Acknowledgement
c) Contents
d) List of tables
e) Abbreviation
3. Introductory
a) Abstract / executive summery
b) Background
c) Literature Review
d) Rationale
e) Objectives
f) Organization of the report
4. Methodological Chapter
a) Study population
b) Study area
c) Duration
d) Sample techniques
e) Methods
o Methods of data collection
o Development instruments
o Operational definition
o Pre test
f) Implementation
g) Quality control
h) Editing and categorization of open responses
i) Data analysis
j) Limitation of the study
5. Findings chapter
a) Findings
b) Results and discussions
c) Conclusions
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d) Recommendations
e) Annexures
6. Reference Chapter
a) References / bibliography
Acknowledgements
These are written while starting a report and the investigator confess the contribution
to them who were associated with the study.
Bifurcating these from main report you should have to put one page blank.

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