Transcript Document
Youth led focus groups bringing young people in
evaluation into FOCUS
Angela Da Re
CARS Consultant
Community Prevention Initiative Workshop
Youth In Focus: A Step-By Step Guide to Conducting Youth-Led Focus Groups
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Welcome!
Who are You?
Who am I?
Why are we here?
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Clumps and clumps with a twist
……….A game
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Housekeeping
Agenda
Group Agreements
Parking Lot
Expectations
Restrooms
Breaks
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THE SCIENCE>>>>
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Research methods, when to choose
focus groups
What is the purpose of the evaluation?
Who is the information for?
Who will use the findings?
What kinds of information are needed?
When is the information needed?
What resources are available?
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Two Categories of Research
Qualitative
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Quantitative
Qualitative Defined
Qualitative research - analysis of data
such as words, pictures or objects. Tends to
be subjective in nature.
Includes:
Anecdotes
Case studies
Focus groups
Key informant interviews
Observations
Analysis of existing files
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Quantitative Defined
Quantitative research - involves
analysis of numerical data, is more
measurable.
Includes:
Counting
Checklists
Surveys
Pre-post tests
Analysis of existing statistics
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Multi-method Evaluation
Benefits
Multiple perspectives
Balance
Utility
Credibility
Methodological rigor
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Multi-method evaluation
Limitations
Expertise needs
Cost
Complexity
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Who can do Research?
YOU CAN DO RESEARCH!!!!!!!
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What is a Focus Group?
A focus group is a
form of qualitative
research in which a
small group of similar
individuals are invited
to provide specialized
knowledge or insight
into the issue under
study.
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THE ART>>>>
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Focus Groups
Advantages
Provides insights
Reveals consensus and diversity
Richness of information
Defining of reasons
Instructive
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Focus Groups
Limitations
Representation
Information overload
Subjective
Opinion dominance
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Focus Groups –
Why we use them
Hearing from those without a voice
Gaining in-depth information
Community needs assessment
Program refinement
Evaluation
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Step 1 –
How to Use Results
Intended use of results guides the
delivery and content.
What you want determines what you’ll need
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Step 2 -
Select Target Audience
Whose behavior are we trying to
change (target population)?
Who all contributes to the desired
behavior change. How? Do they have
insight into the topic?
Who represents the target population?
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Step 3 –
Develop Plan
Which groups will be interviewed
How many of each group
Develop recruitment plan
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Finding Participants – Part 1
Gaining access to your target
audience
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Finding Participants – Part 2
Invitation
Convenience
Schedules
Incentives
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Finding Participants – Part 3
Making sure they show up
Reminders
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Develop Questions
Avoid yes/no questions
Participants may choose to speak from
observations, not always self experience
Use simple, clear language
Avoid biased questions
Choose relevant topics
Avoid leading questions
Move from general to specific
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Develop questions
continued
Follow-up questions for depth
Probing question, examples
“Why” , why to avoid.
Get them thinking
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Activity – Part 1
Preparing questions in advance
Break into groups of 2 people, each duo
will develop mock interview questions.
Begin with general questions and add
more specific, probing questions.
Example: What do you think of your city?
What is your favorite place there, why do
you like it?
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Activity - Part 2
…now, find another pair and take turns
asking the questions your team
developed
Note the listening skills of the
interviewer:
Did they make eye contact?
Did their body language encourage
participation?
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Characteristics of a good
facilitator
Good listening
skills
Personable
Unbiased
Friendly
Knowledgeable
Approachable
Inclusive
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Capable of not
reacting to
answers (positively
or negatively)
Capable of
handling all types
of respondents
Flexible
Activity – Listening Skit
We were given two ears, but only
one mouth. That’s because listening is
twice as hard as talking.
The key is to Act like a good listener
tilt your face toward the speaker
look at the other person
use receptive language “I see, uh huh”
concentrate on what the speaker is saying
Activity - Vacation Chat
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Youth as Facilitators
Advantages
Youth as change
agents
Peers provide a level
of comfort
Can speak the youth
language
Can translate youth
culture
Others???
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Working with Youth as
Participants
Permission from parent or guardian
This rule is very important: direct participants to speak
from observations of what their peers are doing, not
from self experience
Confidentiality must be stressed so that youth feel safe
to speak.
Caution against group responses that may keep others
from sharing.
Restrict side conversations, and interruptions
If the group is very eager to talk, may use a “talking
stick”
If group not talkative, may go around with an option to
pass
Others….
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Running the Group Timekeeping 101
Keeping time
Determine length first and do a trial run
Be strict with time, but also BE FLEXIBLE –
Communication with your timekeeper
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Running the Group –
Maintain neutrality
Behave with interest – but not with
favoritism
Avoid affirming (positive) statements
Avoid negative body language or facial
responses
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Running the Group –
Give ‘em’ all a chance
Encourage non-talkers to be more
expressive
Make sure all members feel valued
Give both verbal and non-verbal (a
nod) cues to participants
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Running the Group –
Set the Stage
Create a friendly, comfortable
atmosphere
Think about the set-up of the room
How you greet people (chat and be friendly)
Consider an atmosphere that would make
you open up
The facilitator sets the tone. Your
actions and re-actions will determine
the success of the focus group.
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When the Group Meets
Review the purpose and goals
If intent is to record, as permission and explain
use as a recording
Do introductions
Go over ground rules:
RESPECT - others and their opinions
Encourage opinions –
but also offer the right to pass
No cell phones/distractions
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What is said in group, stays in group
When the Group Meets
continued
When all the questions have been asked, ask
if anyone has any other comments
Tell the group about any next steps that
will occur and what they can expect next
Thank the group for coming!
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Activity –
Plan and facilitate a focus group
Break into two groups.
Each group will design and implement a mini
focus group from start to finish. Determine the
purpose, create the questions, choose a
facilitator and timekeeper, facilitate the focus
group using the other team as your
participants.
10 minutes prep, 10 minutes
facilitation for each group
Debrief
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After the Focus Group –
Plan & Transcribe the Data
Have a clear plan
Plan for lots o’ time
Transcript rules
Do not delay,
memories fade
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Examine the Data
Data analysis
Use a team
approach
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Results - Disseminate
Identify repeating ideas and themes
Sharing results
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Disseminate Results
continued
Many opportunities: reports, news,
media, web…
Use of quotes
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Results – Use Them!
Use the results- behavior change,
institutional change, social norms,
policy change
Case Study - alcopops
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The End….
Questions
Evaluation
Thank You
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Where to Get More
Information
http://www.cars-rp.org
http://gardnercenter.stanford.edu
http://www.evaluationtools.org
http://captus.samhsa.gov/western/
resources/bp/step7/index.cfm
http://www.socialresearchmethods.net
http://www.amstat.org
http://casat.unr.edu/westcapt
Angela Da Re – [email protected]
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