COMMUNITY

DEVELOPMENT
PRACTISE:
FOCUS GROUP
DISCUSSION
ALBERT A
 FOCUS GROUP DISCUSSION
❏ A focus group discussion involves gathering people from similar backgrounds or
experiences together to discuss a specific topic of interest.
❏ It is a form of qualitative research where questions are asked about their
perceptions attitudes, beliefs, opinion or ideas.
❏ It generally involves group interviewing in which a small group of usually 8 to 12
people.
❏ It is led by a moderator (interviewer) in a loosely structured discussion of
various topics of interest.
 STEPS OF FGD
Identify the Develop
type of facilitators' Conduct FGD
respondents guide

01 02 03 04 05 06
Transcribe,
Select Train field team
Analyse and
moderator and and pre-test
Interpret
field teams instruments
Responses
 TABLE OF CONTENTS
01 PROS & CONS
The advantage and
disadvantage of FGD

KEY FEATURES &

02 DO’S & DON’TS 03 MAJOR SKILLS
The do’s and don’ts of FGD
Skills to conduct FGD
 ADVANTAGES OF FGD
Expressions other than
Open discussion among the
those in verbal form such as
respondents results in
1 2 gestures and stimulated
generation of new ideas that
activities can provide
can be very useful for
researcher with useful
decision-making.
insights.
3

A focus group is not static. The moderator

can bring any changes in order to better
facilitate the discussion during the group
discussion.
DISADVANTAGES OF FGD

Respondents may be Due to small sample size An FGD can be a artificial

reluctant to share some and heterogeneity of setup that influences the
sensitive ideas and individuals, the findings respondents to express
concerns publicly. may not be adequate to and act unnaturally.
make projections
DO’S AND DON’TS OF FDG
Look innocent, as if you
Be the naive listener or Act like the participants
didn’t know things, even if
the naive observer. and you are equal.
you do

Do not ask leading Do not ask ‘yes or no’

Do not tell people they
questions. Do not ask questions, as this does
are wrong. If someone
double-barrelled not open up discussion,
seems really shy, do not
questions. though if you
pressurize them to speak.
inadvertently do, you can
follow up with ‘why’?
 SKILLS
To be flexible and free
of biasness and
prejudices.

A good understanding
of the subject, problem,
or topic
Training or experience in
conducting group
discussion.
Proficiency in the
language & Considerable
group process skills
 KEY FEATURES

POINT 01 POINT 02 POINT 03

The role of the
Involves Helps in gaining
moderator is
selected group insights into
very significant
of individuals people’s shared
as good
to gain understanding
leadership &
information of everyday life
interpersonal
skills
AWESOME
WORDS
 “ALONE WE CAN DO SO
LITTLE TOGETHER WE CAN
DO SO MUCH.”
—HELEN KELLER
THANK YOU!