Focus groups allow for detailed discussion but require careful scheduling and facilitation. Written surveys are inexpensive but often have low response rates. Interviews provide thorough information but take significant time and resources to conduct for each participant.
Focus groups allow for detailed discussion but require careful scheduling and facilitation. Written surveys are inexpensive but often have low response rates. Interviews provide thorough information but take significant time and resources to conduct for each participant.
Focus groups allow for detailed discussion but require careful scheduling and facilitation. Written surveys are inexpensive but often have low response rates. Interviews provide thorough information but take significant time and resources to conduct for each participant.
Method Focus Possible to elicit detailed answers. Scheduling issues: arranging suitable Group Discussions can provide additional time and date for all participants. useful information. Potential dominance of discussion. Can be an opportunity to Costs involved: venue, refreshments, establish/improve community and etc. stakeholder relations. Reliance on skills of the facilitator. Possible to include relatively large Need to limit numbers participating. numbers of participants in one Difficult for learners with lower levels of session. spoken English to participate. Less time-consuming than interviews. May not have all key stakeholders at the table. Electronic Cost-effective way to contact Designing an effective survey can be or Written stakeholders. time-consuming and difficult. Survey Can be completed electronically. May receive limited numbers of replies. No scheduling necessary. May have to follow up with phone calls No limit on number of stakeholders to encourage responses. included. Answers may not be sufficiently detailed. No reliance on a third party: May not be a good way of contacting comments are received “word for learners. word” from stakeholders. Requires knowledge of technology. Interview: Possible to elicit detailed answers. Scheduling issues for interviewer and Face-to- Possible to follow up on and clarify interviewees. Face responses. Time consuming: may mean limiting Often the most thorough way to numbers of stakeholders contacted. collect information. Reliance on the skills of the interviewer. Possible to use realia and visual aides. Potential costs: e.g. venue, participant Possible to use an interpreter if travel expenses, use of interpreter, etc. necessary. Interview: Cost-effective way to contact Scheduling issues. Telephone stakeholders. Time consuming: may mean limiting Possible to elicit detailed answers. numbers of stakeholders contacted. Possible to follow up on and clarify Reliance on interviewer skills. responses. Cannot use visual aides or realia; difficult to use an interpreter. Can be a challenge for language learners.