focus group questions for students

A focus group is a gathering of stakeholders who are selected to participate in a planned discussion intended to uncover perceptions about a particular topic in a non-threatening environment. Similar, yet different, questions would be developed for administrators, technology specialists, or other populations within a school. During the fall of 2019 (when most students were in 11th grade). This focus group guide contains sections that are adaptable for your local context. The leader must listen deeply, think carefully and be empathetic to each participants’ opinion. Carry out a focus group study if you want to understand people’s views and experiences. The ideal group size is 6-8 per focus group. Select a meeting location appropriate for discussion to avoid outside interruptions. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Probes: a. Your focus groups should include 8-12 people per session (any more and it becomes unwieldy) and the sessions should be held in two or three primary alumni cities or regions. There must be a clearly established closing time for discussion, so all participants know they have a specific window in which to share their opinions. Here are some sample focus groups questions to obtain answers to help with these two objectives. This is a sample set of focus group questions designed for for use with teachers. For a calming activity example, have the group close their eyes, raise their hands, and listen to the ringing of a bell or chime. This quiz will test you on the methodologies used with focus groups, as well as the general idea of focus groups. This can be a good way to facilitate the cascading of conversation as participants discuss and rank issues amongst themselves. Student Focus Groups & Interviews. Toolkit for Conducting Focus Groups, provided by Omni, is a great resource intended to assist in conducting focus groups and enhance one’s facilitation skills. To understand what students expect from higher education 2. They provide the opportunity to ask follow-up questions. This is especially true for an ERP implementation. 2 0 obj Here is an example, Main question “What is the biggest problem with brand X?” Outcomes for the Entering Students Focus Group Discussion: 1. The curriculum and intended learning outcomes . If you are conducting a feasibility study at a college or university, you can gain additional insights by asking what we feel are the 9 best questions for focus groups. The ideal leader never dismisses comments as “bad ideas” or “illogical” because they understand that the goal of focus groups is to gauge perceptions. endstream Emphasize that anonymity will be paramount when sharing results with executives. Often, this individual can rally opinion to align with his beliefs, thereby skewing the potential for accurate conclusions. 8 0 obj Student Focus Group Results Fall 2014 Prepared For: Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Prepared By: The Organizational Effectiveness Research Group Minnesota State University, Mankato, Minnesota . Develop and produce the required materials for the meeting, including training pamphlets, project one-pager, etc. <>/ExtGState<>/XObject<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 612 792] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> ERP projects and business transformations are exciting ventures for executives. By all accounts, there has been a dramatic increase in the last decade in the number of schools using focus groups. Decide whether focus groups are appropriate 2. The questions asked in a focus group are crucial. 6 0 obj Clearly state the scope, purpose and desired outcome of the focus group. <> Information about each of these focus group timepoints is presented below. Focus groups are often used in concert with other product research methods to determine not only how the product could be improved but also how the product should be marketed. <> You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Review the minutes and reach a consensus on the top priorities. For many companies, answers to these questions will only be answered days or weeks after the project begins. • When should focus groups not be used? These activities will help you address the concerns you uncover. Focus groups are facilitated group discussions. Join us February 9-11, 2021 to for a training event that equips executives, IT directors and project managers with the skills to transform their people, processes and technology. Often there are several follow-up questions to one main question. By continuing you agree to our use of cookies. Readiness assessments also are helpful. “What’s more important in a breakfast cereal: taste or health?” “How often do you download large files at home?” When an employee feels that their uniqueness is valued, they are more likely to bring their whole selves to work, including those aspects of their identity that distinguish them from the dominant or leadership group.To encourage focus group participants to think about what makes them unique, I ask each participant to draw a tree with bare branches. 7 0 obj b. For example, they should be willing to interrupt (politely) and redirect tangential topics to focus on the topic of discussion. College Student Focus Group Discussion Guide Prepared by Peter D. Hart Research for the Association of American Colleges and Universities This guide was originally prepared for a set of focus groups commissioned by the Association of American Colleges and Universities and conducted by Peter D. Hart Research in Summer, 2004. Two-way focus group: A two-way group involves two separate groups having discussions on the topic at different times. �� JFIF x x �� C This phenomenon can directly impact focus group observations and conclusions. conducting student focus groups (Hollander, 2004; Hyde et al., 2005; Raby, 2010). endobj $.' Follow-Up Questions. Here are the broad focus group questions and prompts for discussion (although they're subject to change): What do you understand by the term e-learning? They can save time and money when compared to the cost of individual interviews. 1 0 obj Before we talk about how to conduct a focus group, let’s take a look at the definition of a focus group and some of the pros and cons. The first round included two student focus groups, one undergraduate and one graduate, and one faculty focus group. We have found that... 1732 Wazee St.Suite 202Denver, CO 80202[email protected]orClick Here. stream endobj An approach to deciding whether to use focus groups is suggested, which includes a consideration of when focus groups are preferred over one-to-one interviews. <>>> It gets details and expands answers. Identify reasons for disagreement and agreement. They help obtain information about personal and group opinions. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. In addition to gathering specific detail about the experiences students and others are having, these structured discussions will also help uncover possible strategies to consider for improvement. The focus group must be designed in a way that allows participants to feel free to discuss potential pain points. To understand how students perceive the college’s effectiveness in meeting their needs 4. Disagreements between group members and irrelevant discussion can distract from the main topic. published focus-group study is used as an illustrative example, along with other examples from the ﬁeld of pedagogic research in geography higher education. (extremely, somewhat, or not familiar at all) How can we fix the problems you talked about? On the other hand, focus groups are generally more costly than surveys to organize, staff and analyze, and they require access to skilled focus group moderators. stream Focus group discussions should be used when you need to understand an issue at a deeper level than you can access with a survey. A survey would be a good way to learn that 54% of the population prefers Program A. endobj 9 0 obj As one group conducts their study, the other group observes the discussion. Taking a deeper look at this definition, there are some key terms that should be clarified: This includes employees, managers, executives, customers and anyone who might be impacted by the topic of interest. In addition, the meeting date must be set at a time that encourages maximum participation from the stakeholders. endobj Identify patterns in responses and general themes. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Listen to your target audience 4. Select participants based on who will be most impacted by the change. <> We use cookies to improve your experience, for traffic analytics and advertising. Utilize the deep-dive questions to probe into pain points. Considering the potential benefits, disadvantages and role within an institution that pre-dominantly teaches through face-to-face sessions. A focus group is a guided discussion whose intent is to gather open-ended comments about a specific issue For student learning assessment, “specific issue” usually means student learning objectives Usually involves a moderator, and between six and twelve participants who are chosen from a … What do you think the role of e-learning is in Higher Education? %�� Select a focus group leader who is outside of the organization, so employees aren’t fearful of backlash. 2) What do teachers do to promote high levels of parent involvement in their children’s education? 2 Project Team Wendy Marson Student Success Implementation Team: Student Focus Group Lead Director of Institutional Research Inver Hills Community College 651-450-3392 … Without adequate planning, any effort you attempt could fail to meet its potential. Making sure you cover all of these areas when formulating your questions is extremely important, as well as the way you word and ask them. This is one of the most important aspects of the focus group definition. A focus group is an integral part of marketing research. Verify that focus groups are the best way to gauge employee perceptions. These questions are also good for building consensus or focusing in on particular issues in a group interview (focus group). However, this excitement is almost always accompanied by apprehension. Decide who to involve 3. endobj How to Manage Scope Creep Before it Devours Your ERP Project, ERP Project Scope: How to Keep Your Team Focused on What Matters, Warehouse Best Practices You Might Find in an ERP System, Webinar: How Manufacturing & Distribution Organizations are Responding to the Long-term Impact of 2020. To understand students’ earliest experiences with the college 3. When they can no … Write main questions in the focus group questionnaire - moderator's guide. Do you know what you are expected to know and be able to do at the end of the Focus Group Questions for Students ... Group information (indicate the number of individuals for each category): Code (identifier): _____ ... number of female students and professionals in agriculture? <> However, while a majority recognize the importance of this goal, only 43% of companies say they're prepared to achieve it. Topics to be covered are drawn from the following list. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. endobj It’s important to find someone unbiased who will seek to create an atmosphere where participants feel safe to speak freely. Focus Group Guide cover . Some participants might not be willing to share their opinions due to fear of backlash. No personal information is shared or stored. How familiar are you with the product? Develop deep-dive questions focused on the why, how and what. Questions for student focus groups . Parent Involvement Focus Group Questions for Parents, Teachers and Administrators . Topics covered in this publication include focus group basics, preparing for the focus group, developing effective questions, planning the focus group session and analyzing the data. • What will schools gain by using focus groups? 1. All of these different types of focus groups would be part of a comprehensive data collection effort, which in itself would be part of a comprehensive evaluation … Determine the number of questions necessary to fill the duration of the meeting. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. • How can the focus group findings be used? x�m�M�@��cuXwt�U~$B��! Where it is necessary and/or helpful to hold a focus group to ascertain the views of a cross-section of students from across the subject, the following questions can be used: a. What do you mean when you say_____? ",#(7),01444'9=82. • What are the advantages and disadvantages of focus groups? These cookies do not store any personal information. However, among the many items in an executive’s repertoire exists a powerful tool that can help them answer these questions before the project commences: focus groups. The objective of the focus group is to pull information from stakeholders. In the end, the group that observed the first session performs their conversation. <> As such, they are intended to be used for discussion where an interviewer asks the question and likely follows up with another question in response. The facilitator is the person guiding the discussion. There will be a facilitator who will ask questions and facilitate the discussion, and two note-takers to write down the ideas expressed within the group. Exploration questions will make up the bulk of your focus group questions. This resource provides parent focus group and survey questions that district leaders can use or adapt as part of their local assessment inventory process. There should be an open floor for discussion to encourage maximum participation. Focus groups allows for an intimate, small group and creates an accepting environment that encourages participants to share their different insights and opinions without fear of … Focus groups findings can be difficult to analyze. They can provide a broader range of information than individual interviews. Explain more about that . Following are some tips for finding the right person to conduct your focus groups: The atmosphere of the focus group is set by the focus group leader. Should You do an In-house Implementation of ERP? To understand what factors students believe would help them start right in college The questions on this page are focus group or interview questions. She recommends starting with “something that elicits stories about a common experience,” stimulating the participants to engage one another and quickly foster a sense of community Engagement questions are also commonly used to get participants talking about … If you participate in this study, you will be in a group of approximately seven to nine students. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. <> However, among the many items in an executive’s repertoire exists a powerful tool that can help them answer these questions before the project commences: focus groups. 4 0 obj Change is never easy, but with guidance from business transformation consultants, like Panorama, you can minimize change resistance. The vividness effect is a well-researched phenomenon in cognitive psychology that describes how peoples’ opinions are often shaped by highly graphic and dramatic situations. One way to ensure this is to conduct different focus groups for employees at different levels to ensure they are not filtering their opinions due to their managers being present. The focus group leader must be prepared to quell this type of behavior and redirect emotion into productive conversation. by Panorama Consulting Group | Oct 28, 2019. whether to use focus groups or surveys to gauge student perceptions. :D�'��C�xh��o�$�.��Y��!�Vz��|h�n��ǳ��M��[��6h�R��4l�8r��1�ޢ�>�S��v#E��vR�lr`�C3|�B��bfexr�:P�U�0F�2��ù�bw�^�;�1� c. Can you give an example of _____ 1) What do parents do that tell you they are involved in their children’s education? Often, this is an ERP consultant. Listen for comments that are vague and seek clarification. Focus groups allow for additional probing and follow-up questions. Keep an eye on participants’ energy levels and intersperse focus-group questions with calm or energizing activities as needed. Focus groups promote self-reflection and allow students to see that they are not alone in the way they feel about a topic. Agendas and relevant training materials must be created in advance. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Following are some advantages of using focus groups: While there are distinct advantages to conducting a focus group, there are some disadvantages, as well: In order for a focus group to be most impactful, it’s important to adhere to the following six-step process: As mentioned earlier, the focus group leader should be someone outside your organization. <> These data deliver the "what" about the student experience, but through focus groups, colleges can also learn the "why." This tool is intended to help the moderator obtain more in-depth information about perceptions and experiences of mitigation strategies used to reduce the spread of COVID-19 when schools are in in-person learning mode. They will set the tone and drive the entire discussion, which will make or break the results for your company and your product. We’ll help you prepare for and conduct focus groups, enabling you to understand and address employees’ fears. I like to use ranking questions in focus groups, where members discuss and rank challenges or priorities. Asked right at the beginning of a focus group session, introductory questions should, in Salmons’ words, “establish a safe space within the group”. If you’re wondering how your ERP implementation or business transformation is going to impact employees, focus groups are one way to find out. With this apprehension comes questions like: Will my employees reject the proposed changes? 5 0 obj Ensure the questions are open-ended and do not lead participants to certain answers. An example of this can be seen in group sessions where there is a very animated and emotional participant. 3 0 obj Will this initiative be successful? endobj On each branch, I ask t… This is just one of many organizational change management tools companies can use to anticipate change resistance. %PDF-1.5 Eleven international students participated in the student focus groups. This is because, if orchestrated correctly, focus groups can yield valuable and actionable information. They are helpful for adding meaning and understanding to existing knowledge, or getting at the “why” and “how” of a topic. The insights revealed from using tools like this can be used to convince executives to invest in critical change management activities, such as communication planning and end-user training. This is why it’s important to find a focus group leader who is organized enough to plan and adhere to a schedule. A Focus Group is a very useful assessment method for helping to determine the why and dive in deeper on student experiences. 17. My question is, if the interns and mentors do not want to do all the items listed above, is it okay to allow them to only participate in focus groups. Develop a summary report of the key findings to share with executives. These focus group discussions lasted from 60 to 90 minutes. Focus Group Interviewing --- Richard Krueger 3 First Steps With Focus Group Studies 1. Surveys allow districts to gather information Inclusive workplaces recognise and value individual differences. Before we talk about how to conduct a focus group, let’s take a look at the definition of a focus group … They are more likely to be candid in a group, especially if others willingly share similar feelings. Select no less than four people but no more than 12 people. According to a recent survey, most supply chain managers are looking for ways to improve warehouse automation processes. endobj Focus Group Timeline We conducted focus groups on this project at two timepoints: During the fall of 2016 (when most students were in 8th grade). This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. The follow-up question inquires about the answer to the main question. You can view our cookie policy anytime to learn more or change your settings. Much attention has been given to focus groups across the change management community. • What questions and decisions can focus groups address? Will managers support me in this venture? Invite participants with a positive message and inform them of the benefits of participating. The focus group leader must be well-versed enough in the topic of interest to react to participants’ comments.

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