1. Other Types of Interviews and Focus Groups

2. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Advantages:  Reduced staff requirements  Widespread geographic areas  Economical  Can be recorded Disadvantages:  Subjects with no telephone  Unlisted numbers  Caller ID  Loss of visual cues Telephone Interviews

3. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 CATI  Can skip transcription  Provides an added sense of anonymity  Loss of visual cues CAPI  Responses can be recorded by the interviewer or the subject  Poor typing skills or lack of reading ability may affect data Computer Assisted Interviewing

4. Web-Based Interviews Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Synchronous Environments  Real-time chat rooms, instant messenger protocols, real-time threaded communications Asynchronous Environments  E-mail, message boards, privately hosted bulleting posting areas

5. Focus Group Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Group discussion Facilitated by a moderator Manageable size

6. The Moderator’s Role Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Draw out information Monitor informal group discussion Encourage free speaking

7. Problems to Avoid Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Running a focus group without reason Vague objectives Using too few groups Over-reaching Too many individuals in each group Too much or not enough moderator influence Unprofessional moderators

8. Advantages Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Highly flexible Large amounts of information in short amounts of time Better understanding of group dynamics Complex sampling strategies not required

9. Disadvantages Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Quality linked to facilitator skill Limited number of questions Dominant personalities can steer group response Data difficult to generalize

10. The Moderator’s Guide Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Systematic and procedural guide  Introduction and introductory activities  Basic rules or guidelines  Question-and-answer  Special activities or exercises  Sensitive issues

11. Basic Focus Group Ingredients Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Clearly defined objective and/or research problem Nature of the group Environment and rapport Aware listening facilitator Well-organized and prepared facilitator Structure and direction Research assistance Systematic analysis

12. Should you use a Focus Group? Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Will focus group data inform the research questions? Will you obtain the best data for the time and money? Is this the best technique for the population? Will focus groups enhance the project through triangulation?

13. Analyzing Focus Group Data Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Step 1: Transcription  Transcribe the entire interview verbatim including all probes and any slang Step 2: Observer notes  Interactionary cues of the group Step 3: Analyze discussion content  Identify trends and patterns

14. Analysis Tips Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Avoid quantifying results Provide quotations to support your assessment Offer individual group member characteristics Make a point or state a pattern before offering quotes.

15. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Advantages:  Reduced costs  Broad geographic scope  Access to hard to reach participants  Convenient and comfortable Disadvantages:  Loss of moderator authority  Loss of group atmosphere  Loss of group dynamics  Loss of attentiveness Online Focus Groups