However, hearing from the other participants will spark reflection on various aspects of your product or service. © 2017 JF Smith Group. Congratulations! TAM SAM SOM: What Do They Mean & How Do You Calculate Them? Samford University. Is there anything we haven't touched on today that you'd like us to know? A Focus Group Discussion (FGD) is a method for collecting qualitative data that gathers community individuals together to discuss a specific topic. I read it immediately and had several takeaways that will no doubt be helpful in my fundraising efforts. These questions should be answerable using scaled responses. How best should the project/ program deliver those services (or activities)? Our philosophy is simple - Provide quality service, do more than we are paid to do, and build long lasting relationships with the clients we serve. Focus Group Interviewing --- Richard Krueger 4 Beginning the Focus Group Discussion The first few moments in focus group discussion are critical. Designing focus group questions for employee engagement is a critical step to conducting productive focus group sessions. I am so excited about your book! Free and premium plans, Customer service software. Whether your focus group is there to give feedback on a product or service or help you assess how your brand stands out in your competitive landscape, thought-provoking, open-ended questions are essential to a productive discussion. Rather than individual responses to formal questions, focus groups have general discussions. What do you envision is the lifespan of this product/service before you upgrade or replace it? Many focus group facilitators like to end sessions with a wrap-up question, such as “from everything we discussed here today if there was one thing you could change straight away about our communications, what would it be? What words come to mind when you think of [insert a word that symbolizes the main value prop of your product/service here - for example, 'efficiency,' 'speed,' 'health']? Here, we've pulled together 53 questions you can ask in your next focus group to pull the most interesting and useful insights you can out of your participants. Your “Think Up!” book is excellent! hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(53, '560aa80b-9e0b-4615-851c-f23e4f49b62f', {}); Originally published Nov 12, 2020 2:19:00 PM, updated November 13 2020, How to Run a Focus Group for Your Business. Who are the people in our industry who you look to as experts? Premium plans, Connect your favorite apps to HubSpot. FGDs are a predetermined semi-structured interview led by a … Marketing automation software. Avoid defending your product or service or setting any limitations on these questions. Connectedness A frame of mind that reflects an individual’s outlook on life and perceptions of belongingness, well-being, and HubSpot uses the information you provide to us to contact you about our relevant content, products, and services. If you could either have this product/service or the equivalent dollar value for you/your business, which would you choose? So, use open-ended questions often and widely in focus groups and depth interviews. Examples of open-ended questions: “When you think about green energy, what is the first thing that comes to … It is used to learn about opinions on a designated topic, and to guide future action. All Rights Reserved. A focus group can be extremely helpful to get into the mindset of your customers and receive genuine, helpful feedback for your company. How would you pronounce this? Here are the 9 best questions for focus groups: This question is designed as an ice-breaker; to make everyone think back about the good times they had and make them feel more at ease. That's a fascinating point that [name] just said -- what do you all think of that? Pepper Jo Six (PJ6) ‘97 If the answer is yes, the next question should be “without making a commitment today…”, can you provide potential gift ranges, from low to high, of where their gift would fall if payable over a 5 year period. 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. Be sure to mix multiple-choice questions with open-ended ones that give the customer a chance to explain their opinions, says SurveyGizmo. However, it's easier said than done. You might be looking to develop a content strategy for your brand, branch out into a new content medium, or simply generate new content ideas. If you could change one thing about the packaging of our products, what would it be? For example, don’t ask two- or three-part questions. Why? Instead, use the opportunity to ask follow-up questions about exactly what the participants don't like about a specific product or brand. Among these opportunities, which do you find the least compelling and why? This book gives considerable attention to analyzing and reporting focus group results. 2. In your opinion, are there projects more compelling for funding than those listed on the campaign investment opportunities sheet? That empathy can grow into trust, which is key for eliciting honest insights out of your group. In market research, a focus group is a group of five to fifteen people. 15 QUESTIONS TO ASK IN A RETENTION INTERVIEW 1. What Is a Focus Group Discussion? 17 Examples of Effective Market Research Focus Group Questions How do you feel about the course? Open-ended questions start conversations and keep them going. On each branch, I ask … (Spell out the name on a piece of paper or whiteboard. Some sample questions are: Who is the target population? 8. Did you have any thoughts on this topic that you wanted to share? Exploration questions will make up the bulk of your focus group questions. You’ve been a tremendous mentor. The secret to great icebreaker questions… It should be a combination of an interesting conversation topic and also one that isn’t extremely personal or revealing. Use topics and questions that are generally broader than those asked in one-on-one interviews. ), What words come to mind when you think of our product category? Deputy Director of Athletics for Revenue Generation This section contains sample questions and prompts from a focus group conducted on local news and information access in New Jersey. questions, planning the focus group session, and analyzing the data. How much have these factors contributed to you staying at the organization as long as you have? For more information, check out our privacy policy. What's one task on which you feel you spend way too much time? Open-ended questions can be daunting at first. Simply copy-and-paste the questions you like below into the notetaking template for a ready-to-go, printable document you can bring to the session. This provides them an opportunity to give detailed responses to additional questions you may have, but in a confidential manner to allow them to be more forthcoming with feedback. How well do you feel we incorporate feedback from you, our customers, into our service/product? When you think about the product, do you think of it as something you absolutely need, something you could do without, or something that's somewhere in the middle? Why didn't you go with one of our competitors? (Specify what type of communication here -- product updates, renewal notices, product/service coaching, meeting reminders, urgent alerts, etc.). As I think about the best coaches I’ve ever had, you’re right in there as you all share the common threads of being great communicators who excellently stress the basics, the fundamentals for success. Recognize that it can be daunting for anyone (especially people with whom you've built relationships) to share negative feedback, so thank them for their candor. Participants may not know where to start. Listening to your customers' feedback and suggestions for improvement is crucial to retaining customers and turning them into promoters of your brand. News outlets? This quiz will test you on the methodologies used with focus groups, as well as the general idea of focus groups. Focus Groups: Bring people together with a facilitator to discuss open-ended questions. After briefly overviewing the main uses of focus groups in health research, I advance the key argument of this article: that focus groups are an ideal method for gaining access to participants’ own meanings. But, most importantly, you want to minimize the difference between demographic groups. Illustrating my argument with examples from health-related Written by Lucy Alexander Participants should be able to decide how much they want to share with the group -- don't force anyone to share something they may not feel comfortable sharing. Great stuff. University of Wyoming Foundation, “I read your book over the weekend and was very impressed. Challenge your participants to reflect more on the points they've made if you hear something that you're curious about. Focus Groups are primarily utilized to generate qualitative research. Thank you so much for sending the UW Foundation Development Staff copies. Which specific sources do you go to for information on our industry? What is a focus group discussion? Assessment Tool kit: Focus Group Template Opening Question: Please share with us your name and something you love to do in your free time. Avoid stopping conversation here unless the group gets completely sidetracked. Engagement • October 28, 2018 Effective Focus Group Questions. If so, what would they be? You might be looking to develop a content strategy for your brand, branch out into a new content medium, or simply generate new content ideas. If not, who would be? Download the Template. Is an example of a group question that will stop anyone from answering and puts people on the defensive. A focus group discussion (or FGD) is a qualitative research method in the social sciences, with a particular emphasis and application in the developmental program evaluation sphere. For veterans, it is a review of best practices. If you’re using an employee engagement survey to gauge that impact, make sure to focus on key performance drivers and ask questions that will truly surface whether employees feel motivated to put energy and effort into … Describe your job title and your day-to-day responsibilities. that can provoke the most useful answers? Focus Group Examples of Questions (THINK TANK) THINK TANK Focus Group Questions . If you ended up liking your experience with this product, could you see yourself repurchasing it? The following eight questions will help you understand what motivates your target buyer persona, their habits, their responsibilities and decision-making power, and their preferences. To encourage honesty, avoid agreeing with any disparaging comments that your participants make about your competitors. What words or feelings come to mind when you think about our company? These eleven questions are intended to help you understand the demand for a new product or service. How likely are you to recommend our product/service to a friend? Among these opportunities, which do you find the most compelling and why? It was my New Year’s resolution to read more, learn more, and grow in this professional area. Focus groups are common in three situations: Initial stages of a research study; While creating a plan of action during research; After the completion of the study to establish results; For example, a laptop company needs customer feedback about an upcoming product. (Specify the dollar value of your product/service when asking this question. As we underscore in the guide, you will want to create your own focus groups questions based on your project’s specific research objectives and goals. These are helpful in removing any biases that you and your team might have as people who work in the industry and know various players very well. Featured Resource: Market Research Focus Group Template. Your organization is interested in offering a … Contact us to get a copy of Jerry’s new book! For more information on conducting Focus Groups or Interviews go to www.deomi.org and watch the “How to conduct a Focus Group video” or download the “Focus Group Guide” for detailed information. Inclusive workplaces recognise and value individual differences. Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications. A focus group can generate a tremendous amount of information. Questions for Generating Content on Your Industry. A focus group is best defined as a small group of carefully selected participants who contribute to open discussions for research. [Name], you've been a bit quiet recently. For instance: These questions will help you understand how people truly feel about your brand, product, or service. Focus Groups are an effective method for producing a more inclusive feasibility study and allow you to reach out to many more constituents than would ordinarily be possible. Bravo! These questions are intended to spark discussion about the brands in your industry that are top-of-mind for consumers. What is/was your first reaction to the product? And now, I have a book from the BEST!!! Well done! Here are some sample focus groups questions to obtain answers to help with … What factors cause you to enjoy your current job and work situation? Bravo! Thanks for what you are doing at Cumberland and for sharing the book with me!”, “Kudos! When and how did you first come across our brand/product/service? ). c) How comfortable do you feel asking your manager questions about the direction, goals and status of the company as a whole? When you're browsing online, on which websites do you spend most of your time? 7. Lucy also recommends HubSpot's free Market Research Kit. And well and enjoyably written. Focus group examples. Best wishes and Merry Christmas! What do you think about the process of booking a table at a restaurant? Congratulations! Director of Development Sample questions. What do you think this product is missing? Focus Group Discussion Guide Sample b) Do you understand how you contribute to the organization’s goals and strategies? Don't worry if the conversation seems to stray far from your brand, as the insights that people end up sharing will likely reveal what's significant to them in their life and work. Before diving into deeper questions, it's best to warm up the group with a couple of open-ended questions that allow participants to get to know each other a little bit. It may be difficult to hear the answers to these questions, but turning customer pain points around will elevate your product or service to the next level. Think about the communication between. Blogs/long-form posts? The following questions are helpful for running word association brainstorms and generating potential names or parts of names for a new product or company. If you could wave a magic wand and change one thing about our product/service, what would it be? I wanted to thank you for sending me a copy of “Think Up”. What are the first three apps you open on your phone in the morning? How often do you/would you use this type of product? Instead, frame them in a way that allows anyone to voice anything at all that they're feeling. JF Smith Group! A focus group is a small-group discussion guided by a trained leader. Careful thought about how to document this information can pay big dividends when you are trying to beforehand analyze the information at the end. Capturing information from the focus group is an essential task. What is your initial reaction to this name? How would you describe our product/service to other people? Conducting Focus Groups with Youth and Teens ... example, you may want to better understand how you can improve your Club’s score on emotional safety or fun. For veterans, it is a review of best practices. Using a focus group over other methods of customer feedback will allow you to have a full, multi-participant discussion about your product – versus stagnant answers on a computer screen. What would you most like to add to or improve about this product? It will also allow you to interact with your customers and … What format of content do you consume to keep up with our industry? 9. How would you describe our company to other people? Detailed examples will be helpful to those who are just getting started in focus groups. What gaps do you see in the content about our industry online? (Example: "What words come to mind when you think of food delivery?"). What are the topics on which you'd like to see more education? These questions will uncover buying habits for a product like the one you're envisioning and whether there's true product-market fit. In a brief time the moderator must create a thoughtful, permissive atmosphere, provide ground rules, and set the tone of the discussion. Share an aspect of your work or life experience that's brought you here today. Focus groups: A practical guide for applied research. And there you have it! The participants focus on a specific product, topic, political theme, political candidate or party. If not, who would be? How much would you be willing to pay for a product like this? The focus here is on your company -- not the larger industry landscape or your competitors. Where do you go to get a pulse on the things going on in our industry? 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. What is the biggest challenge you face in your role/when it comes to the problem to which this product is a solution? Well done!”. itivist) approaches—focus groups offer a valu-able way forward. Would you be the one using this product/service most in your household/job? Examples: A focus group of parents of preschoolers meets to discuss child care needs. Toward the end, participants are presented with an additional, short, personal questionnaire asking for scaled responses, potential gift ranges, and other comments. Transition Question: When you think of the THINK TANK, what comes to mind? 3. If so, how often? There are advantages and disadvantages to focus groups. Parents share their views on local child care programs, and on what could be done to improve them. A focus group is an integral part of marketing research. d) Do you feel your manager has the information they need to answer your Participants are presented with open-ended questions chosen from the personal interviewee questionnaire but in a discussion format. While this publication provides basic information about putting together a focus group project, the researcher or facilitator will play a critical role in determining the ultimate effectiveness of the effort. You are giving away all of your secrets! Thanks for the book! If you're unsure how to conduct a successful focus group, take a look at How to Run a Focus Group for Your Business. Here are a few questions you might ask to build trust: hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(53, '6ba52ce7-bb69-4b63-965b-4ea21ba905da', {}); The most helpful insights that come out of focus groups are often the most specific points. Historically this was heavily slanted towards generating a focus group discussion aimed at gaining insight into products and services. For those new to the profession. You’re likely to only get an answer to one of them, says Restaurant Engine. Read it cover to cover and loved it. Be sure to allow each group member who has something to say to speak up before moving on to the next question. It can also include a couple of additional open-ended discussion questions from the personal interview questionnaire about university leadership and the faculty but do not use questions already discussed during the group session. How do you define success in your role/your life? What services do they need? ” book is excellent! It should also include a question asking if they would support the proposed campaign financially by making a gift. Podcasts? Would you talk to a sales rep, or would you rather purchase it on your own? What other products/services come to mind when you look at this one? Present participants with investment opportunities (proposed campaign projects list): Please feel free to reach out to us with any questions or comments you may have. 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. 53 questions you can ask in your next focus group. Houston Academy Capital Campaign Projects Under Construction! 2 We look forward to hearing from you and hope you find this information helpful! Asking the best focus group questions will garner an additional layer of insights above and beyond your feasibility study interviews. See all integrations. What can you ask beyond "What do you think of our product?" Each person should receive an individual questionnaire; however, include only one dollar amount or gift range in your final numbers if there is a couple. What words come to mind when you hear this name? It was an easy read and a lot of great information for all business people. You may unsubscribe from these communications at any time. The results were so good that US advertising companies continued the practice in peace times, and we still use focus groups today. By including a question that allows people to talk about something tangential to the topic of the focus group, your participants will begin to build empathy for each other. However, it's important you keep the group focused on the specific question you've asked. The benchmark score for this question is 80%; that is, 80% of your workforce should agree or strongly agree to this question. We're committed to your privacy. What's one strategy or tactic you think is underrated in our industry? Testimonial from Dr. Scott Phillipps – Headmaster, Houston Academy, Dothan, AL, Northeastern State University – in Tahlequah, OK – Raises Over $27 Million in Successful Capital Campaign, Congratulations to Valdosta State University. They typically come together with a moderator. The facilitator then probes and pursues lines of inquiry as group participants engage in the conversation. How to Do Market Research: A Guide and Template. @lucyalexander22. Here are a few focus group questions for employees to help HR professionals get an idea of the kind of questions they should be formulating: Which other brands in our industry did you consider when you were shopping around? The stakes were high, and those commissioning the research were prepared to try something new. How would you ideally like to buy this product? When conducting a retention interview there are a some key questions that you’ll want to focus on. Any successful content strategy prioritizes what's most engaging and interesting for your target buyer persona, so a focus group can be an effective way to be sure that you're producing material on the right topics and in the medium that your audience wants to consume. Would you be the one deciding to purchase this product/service? Free and premium plans, Sales CRM software. What ultimately pushed you to purchase this product/service? Organizational Change Management Survey Questions. Why did you decide to join our focus group today? Program theory assessment evaluation questions should focus on this theory of change to see if there are gaps in logical connections or inaccurate assumptions. Social media posts? These questions are written to spark discussion about topics other than your company, product or service, and the competitive landscape. 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. it is a guide to the sequence of seeking and securing philanthropic support. How would you describe someone who you think would use this product/service? Do you agree or disagree with [name]'s statement, and why? analysis template. Where would you buy this product/service? What is one recent trend you've noticed in our industry? 6. If you're looking to do a complementary research-based analysis of your competitors, download our Market Research Kit to gain access to a S.W.O.T. “What’s more important in a breakfast cereal: taste or health?” “How often do you download large files at home?” In fact, the timing of this could not be better. When you think about our industry, which brands come to mind first? Free and premium plans, Content management system software. Thank you very much for the book. What others have said about Jerry’s book…. For a free template for notetaking during focus groups, a guide on conducting market research, and several other templates, download our Market Research Kit. One of the few books that applies focus groups to evaluation research. And well and enjoyably written. How do you prefer to receive communications from our company? This article talks about the 5 steps to conduct a focus group, the role of the moderator, focus group questions, sampling methods to derive the audience for a focus group … Thank you for your interest in the Bo Kerr The COVID-19 pandemic has upended workforces and workplaces, creating lasting change in trends that directly impact employees’ engagement and productivity. For those new to the profession, it is a guide to the sequence of seeking and securing philanthropic support. What do you like about this product that you may not find in a similar one? About This Quiz & Worksheet. Any successful content strategy prioritizes what's most engaging and interesting for your target buyer persona, so a focus group can be an effective way to be sure that … Focus groups first emerged during World War II when researchers wanted to know how everyday people reacted to propaganda. Stay up to date with the latest marketing, sales, and service tips and news.