Why? This will provide insight into the areas you should be expanding on or pouring more resources into that you know will be beneficial to the product and consumer. We discussed X topic at length, but we didn’t hear much about Y. Pick the topics you want to discuss the most and expand upon them, and be sure to cover each area of follow-up questions to cover all your bases. This question aims to provide a better idea of how crucial your customer’s problem is or how immediately the problem needs to be addressed and solved. Why or why not? 36. For example, the process of gathering information about the nature of a proposed after-school program might require that separate focus group interviews be conducted with parents, teachers, and students. Topics to be covered are drawn from the following list. Although the main purpose of a focus group is to discuss and go deeper than your face-value yes/no questions, if one of your objectives is to quantify data, you might want to add a few questions that allow you to count specific answers and apply statistical techniques. and follow-up questions. We give you the insight you need to write all types of focus group questions with the help of proven examples and expert advice. In order to gather productive data and make the right changes to your product, you need to figure out what customers are unhappy with currently. 23. 24. endobj Brand name, customer service, etc.). The purpose of engagement questions is to establish the topic of discussion with your participants and make them comfortable with the focus group setting and with each other. Focus Group Template Consent Form . If you could choose a feature of this product to develop further, what would you choose and why? 55. Find out if customers think your product is potentially irrelevant or could be replaced in the near future, and develop a prevention plan . endstream <> Would you recommend this product to a friend? Techleap’s Rise selects only ten companies from hundreds of candidates to receive the title of highest potential tech companies in the Netherlands. Helping people achieve their goals. 26. 5 0 obj How much would you be willing to pay for this product? A focus group can be extremely helpful to get into the mindset of your customers and receive genuine, helpful feedback for your company. • How can the focus group findings be used? 53. Figure out what the customers feel is lacking from your product and why they think it is a necessary addition. stream %���� 39. How would you describe yourself in 5 words? I’m teaching my teammate about the ins and outs of planning, conducting, and sharing results from focus groups with youth. Sample Focus Group Topic Guide. endobj • What is a focus group? With the answers from these questions, you can dig into the decision making process for purchasing and understand the “why” behind the customer’s buy: 11. Get to know your customer’s favorite part of your product and be sure to understand why. What is something that has deterred you or would deter you from using our product? Again, provide a timeline for a more thought-out answer, and figure out how those changes have affected the customer’s use of your product. 33. 15. These questions are usually open-ended questions aimed at setting the tone for the focus group. How would you expect a customer service department to respond to this problem? endobj 19. endobj You mentioned X-competitor product, what about Y and Z competitor product? 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. 52. But in order for your focus group to be successful and worthwhile, you need to ask your customers the right questions. For a calming activity example, have the group close their eyes, raise their hands, and listen to the ringing of a bell or chime. Have you ever purchased the competitor’s product? <>/ExtGState<>/XObject<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 612 792] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> 2 Project Team Wendy Marson Student Success Implementation Team: Student Focus Group Lead Director of Institutional Research Inver Hills Community College 651-450-3392 … 35. Purpose. Identifying how I can…, We interviewed Paolo Pettenello, the Head of Performance in Wonderflow to gain insight on the Company Performance management field and Paolo’s personal achievements and goals. What influences and motivates you to choose this product over others? Be sure to ask introductory questions that will steer and drive the discussion in the way you want it to go. x�m�M�@����cuXwt�U~$B��! Also, check out the article about basic question tips. 1. Questions for student focus groups . What are some core values and beliefs you hold that lead you to purchase this product over the competitors? This would occur only for one type of sample group for the process, not the rest, e.g. I'll cover how to collaborate with program staff/funders to figure out what information they're most interested in as well as how to turn those interests into focus group questions. 29. While driving the conversation through the use of follow-up questions, you want customers to expand on their answers. Do you expect to buy this product again or use it more in the upcoming year? What is something you would like to learn more about it? The curriculum and intended learning outcomes . The [unit or department] at the University of Arizona is conducting a program assessment under the supervision of [insert responsible party, director, etc.]. We will expand on the reasoning behind each question in the following section, because these are the content questions that will really provide the results you want to see from your focus group. How would you describe yourself in 5 words? Describe how your students … By students' characteristics? Inclusive workplaces recognise and value individual differences. After gaining general satisfaction knowledge from your customers, you need to get into the specifics of your products. This can be prompted by using probing questions, or questions that will clarify. What features do you think are better in our competitor’s product? Tell me why you have those specific expectations when purchasing this product. 13. 51. endobj Get some specific customer stories or quotes on their positive interactions with your product. Your customers will be able to tell you what they want to know more about, or what they feel uninformed about regarding your product. Determine participants By clearly defining the purpose and outcomes of the focus group, it is easier to identify who should be invited to participate in the focus group. Written by Wonderflow. endobj In a brief time the moderator must create a thoughtful, permissive atmosphere, provide ground rules, and set the tone of the discussion. 45. Once you learn basic questions, try laddering. During the program, the founders of the ten selected scale-ups are encouraged to learn from each other about the challenges…. $.' 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 . Find the perfect sound in seconds. 2 0 obj We interviewed Umberto Giuliani, the newest member of Wonderflow and Head of New Business, to gain more insight into achieving sustainable economic growth within a company and his personal goals. Why? Sample Focus Group and Survey Materials STUDENT ASSESSMENT INVENTORY FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS Overview The Student Assessment Inventory for School Districts supports using a student-centered process to evaluate the assessments students currently take and then determine the minimum testing necessary to serve essential diagnostic, instructional and accountability purposes. In the end, the group that observed the first session performs their conversation. 1 0 obj And even if they aren’t adverse to it, they will be forced to think about how they possibly could be. What features do you think are better in our product versus competitors? If you could choose a feature of this product to eliminate, what would you choose and why? Can you please clarify why your usage of this product has declined/increased over the past three years? Give customers a timeline to get a more specific answer, and see how any shifts or changes in the company or product have affected customers’ views. Teacher Questions on Curriculum and Pedagogy Student Use of Technology . What trends do you see happening in this industry. Paolo’s insights will help Wonderflow shape up its “scale up” growth to the next level. Why? These questions will be more pointed than overall exit questions, but they will help you get a general feel from your customers about your product and what drives them to use/not use it. 14. 20. Exit question: check to see if anything was missed in the discussion AN EXAMPLE Questions for a Focus Group on Dental Flossing endobj Is there a different product that you think could replace this product? Try to drive the answer in a way that will tell you what would make your company the first in the customer’s mind if yours isn’t their first choice. Did this vary by faculty member? Competitive, authentic, sportive, enjoyable, modest What is your favorite aspect of your career? Keep an eye on participants’ energy levels and intersperse focus-group questions with calm or energizing activities as needed. 44. Go beyond the features or uses of the product to understand why your customers believe in your brand. These questions are usually open-ended questions aimed at setting the tone for the focus group. Hints for Developing Your Own Sample of Focus Group Questions. What changes would you recommend making to our product to give us an edge over our competitors? • What questions and decisions can focus groups address? “What’s your favorite brand of cereal?” 40. You want to make sure you hear exactly what works well (or doesn’t) in this product, and you also want to hear how customers would do things differently with these features if they were in charge. ���� JFIF x x �� C Guide and Template for Conducting Diversity Planning Focus Groups Moderators conducting focus group: _____ Focus group participant category: _____ Date/time of focus group: _____ Instructions to moderators and note takers: Thank you for agreeing to conduct a focus group on behalf of the College/School Diversity and Inclusion Committee. 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. 28. 50. Within each theme we have tried to address what are the possible sub-questions depending on group’s answers. See the article about moderator guide. Focus groups can be effective for a wide variety of products and ideas. Once the discussion has opened up from the introductory questions, you will want to use follow-up questions to dig deeper into the topics that have been brought up and clarify what has been stated in the opening. You are invited to participate. Here are 50+ example questions to ask when conducting a focus group: Introductory Questions. 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. What is something that would make you more inclined to buy and use this product, even if you are already a user? Like reviews, focus groups allow you to discover the feedback you need to grow. <> Along with the areas for improvement, you will want to ask your focus group what areas your product is excelling in over the competitors. Focus Group Discussion Guide Sample I. But in order for your focus group to be successful and worthwhile, you need to ask your customers the right questions. Focus Group Examples. 3 0 obj Gain knowledge on useful aspects of your product that might need revamping, or simply build upon what you already have. Identify the specific issues your customers are facing in order to figure out your products biggest issue and prioritize that concern. It illustrates how to order questions within a topic of inquiry. What excuse would you give to a salesperson if you did not want to use this product and he/she was pressuring you to buy it? The goal of today’s meeting is to understand if the internal communications and news you currently receive is effective, relevant and valuable to you. <> 9 0 obj Let the customer identify what they believe is the root of their problem, even if you think you may know the true answer. 25+ Key Focus Group Questions: How to Choose, Write and Ask the Best Questions. Look into marketing and specific product features that motivate your customers to buy your product over the competitors. Similar, yet different, questions would be developed for administrators, technology specialists, or other populations within a school. 25. What follows is a sample focus group discussion guide that can be used to collect information from entering students. Writing focus group questions in the moderator's guide or focus group questionnaire is your first step. Sometimes a single focus group is not enough. It will also help you avoid making any changes to features or aspects of your product that customers are truly enjoying and believe are functioning well already. Get to know your customers’ expectations so you can proactively fulfill them before a complaint occurs. How has your usage of this product changed over the past three years? You can receive feedback on what your competitors are doing that your customers like and also dislike to know that your company and product is providing the best service out there for the market. What are your expectations when purchasing a product such as this one? There are only a few basic rules to keep in mind while participating today: a) Everyone is expected to be an active participant. <> Always prompt your customers for more in order to get the most information from them possible, but do so in a way that makes them feel comfortable and that their opinion is truly valuable. 41. What is your favorite aspect of our product and why? What are this product’s key weaknesses? 54. What are your problems or concerns when using this product? These are the questions you can use to drive your focus group in the way you want it to go. Today’s topic is . 37. It will also allow you to interact with your customers and drive the conversation towards your specific, desired outcome. 5. 27. 31. What features would make this product more useful in your daily life? On Advising: SAMPLE Student Focus Group Discussion Guide What follows is a sample focus group discussion guide that can be used to collect information from students regarding their experience with advising. 41. If you could add any feature to our product, what would it be? stream You may think you know your biggest competitor, but getting the customer’s insight on this can shed light on specific companies that may have not even been on your radar as a major competitor. In what aspects do we succeed where our competitors fail, and vise-versa? Do you feel that any topic or issue about this product has not been addressed? Gain service feedback and help meet customer expectations of how they would like their concerns addressed and handled by your company. While it may seem counterintuitive, you should ask direct questions about your competitors to know what your company can do better to beat out the competition. • When should focus groups not be used? Would you say you are satisfied with the performance of this product? If you fail to do this, then it will be more difficult to make specific improvement changes to your product after analyzing the results of the focus group. review samples of student work prior to the focus group so they are prepared to comment to the focus group questions An alternative is to engage them in an activity prior to the focus group in which they evaluate student work samples In both cases, it is a good idea to ask participants to complete a closed-ended questionnaire during the focus group. Questions for Generating Content on Your Industry. 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 … What do you already know about this product? Exploration questions: get to the meat of the discussion 3. And try projective techniques. A focus group is an integral part of marketing research. What factors influence you to buy this product? Closed-ended questions that force the whole group to answer may also eliminate any group bias that has arised from a few people dominating the conversation. What are your general feelings about it? Questions for Secondary Students; For questions and sample instruments that are not focus group/interview questions, please see our page on other data collection tools. To do this, ask questions to prompt participants to fill any holes in the conversation. The purpose determines how many focus groups are needed and who should be invited to each one. Reveal some hidden marketing techniques that may just “rub your customer the wrong way” that your company may be unaware of. Surveys allow districts to gather information from a large number of students in a relatively short period of time, and answers can be easily aggregated. You’ll typically only ask a few engagement questions, at the beginning of the focus group session.