Lead a successful focus group with these tips from our professional facilitators! For those occasions when you need extra help, visit findafacilitator.com to hire a certified focus group facilitator to manage your focus group.

1. FACILITATION
FOCUS GROUP
A GUIDE FOR FACILITATORS

2. TIPS FOR THE SMOOTHEST SESSIONS
People talk more when they' re comfortable. make
your job easier from the start by finding people who
don' t know one another but are homogeneous
enough to be comfortable.
Confirm focus group participation in writing. Be clear about the length,
purpose, and location of the session as well as any incentives you' re
offering.
BUILDING THE GROUP
1. Design a compatible group from the beginning.
2. Establish clear expectations up front.
3. Create a plan to keep participants cozy througout the session.
Ensure the session takes place in a room just large enough for the group
with access to food and facilities. Arrange for an assistant moderator if
possible.

3. TIPS FOR THE SMOOTHEST SESSIONS
As participants arrive, get the appropriate release
signatures and paperwork. Offer nametags with
anonymous identifiers or pseudonyms. Welcome and
remind about schedule, purpose, and venue details.
Communicate an expectation for full participation, confidentiality, and mutual
respect for all ideas expressed. Make participants aware of your notetaking or
recording devices.
RUNNING THE GROUP
1. Ensure you manage the "musts" first.
2. Establish the session protocol.
3. Be prepared to paraphrase, probe, and troubleshoot.
Come to the session with a list of questions, plus a few extra. Rephrasing
questions, asking for clarification, and tactfully addressing challenging
participants will almost always be necessary. Plan for it!

4. TIPS FOR THE SMOOTHEST SESSIONS
Use a spreadsheet and code questions and
comments, organizing by participant ID.
Look for commonalities among participant responses. Once you find
these themes, return to your spreadsheet and match each participant
comment with the appropriate theme codes. Create a summary for
answer trends for each focus group question.
SYNTHESIZING THE RESULTS
1. Transcribe notes into meaningful bits.
2. Detect themes.
3. Deliver findings.
Compile spreadsheets and documents into a format consistent with the
expectations of the study sponsor and deliver.

5. BEST OF LUCK!
FOCUS GROUP
WITH YOUR UPCOMING
For those occasions when you'd rather find an experienced focus group facilitator to manage your focus group,
visit findafacilitator.com and find one today!