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When Should Focus Groups Not Be Used

If you need to generalize results to a large population or statistical data is required. Why a focus group is NOT appropriate: The participants of a focus group are often representative of the population, but they are not necessarily a statistically representative sample of the population.

When You Should Use a Focus Group. Explore needs, thoughts and feelings. Explore brand perceptions. Explore consumer language, issues that you saw from survey research. Understand decision process, factors. Explore use cases. When you want to learn from the banter between people.

Why a focus group is NOT appropriate: While focus groups can provide a wealth of ideas and feedback on perceptions and opinions, qualitative data lacks statistical precision. Focus groups work well in tandem with a quantitative study (see #1 on the list above), but shouldn’t be used in place of a quantitative study when there is a lot at stake.

While verbal consent may be sufficient, it is best to ask participants to sign a form. A disadvantage of focus groups is that they are too small to provide true anonymity to participants. Make sure that your participants know this prior to participating. There are a few things you can do to commit to keeping information private.

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What is bad about focus groups?

Focus groups are good, but the way they are conducted and the conclusions are drawn often lead to wrong decisions. It is not easy to organize focus group discussion, data is biased, and the cost involved is also high.

How might focus groups be misused?

Misuse: Focus groups can be misused and abused by considering the results as conclusive rather than exploratory. 2. Misjudge: Focus group results can be more easily misjudged than the results of other darn collection techniques. Focus groups are particularly susceptible to client and researcher biases.

When can focus groups be used?

When or why is it used? Focus groups are used in traditional market research to gather target audience opinions and attitudes about certain products, services or concepts. A company may use a focus group to gather customer feedback on a new product or service before they decide to take the concept into development.

Should I use interviews or focus groups?

Focus groups are indeed the best way to exchange viewpoints and discuss disagreements between consumers. This dynamics will not be captured in a face-to-face interview. In addition focus groups may be less expensive than interviews, provided the analytical treatment remains light.

When should focus groups be used in research?

Step 1: Choose your topic of interest. Focus groups are primarily considered a confirmatory research technique. In other words, their discussion-heavy setting is most useful for confirming or refuting preexisting beliefs.

Why is an interview better than a focus group?

The interviewers are also able to obtain an insight about the respondent and gain more knowledge than any focus group. Individual interviews allow you to probe users attitudes, beliefs, desires, and experiences to get a deeper understanding of the users who had gone through your product.

Why might a researcher prefer to use focus groups rather than depth interviews when might depth interviews be preferable?

That is because focus groups tend to be more useful initial stages of research. Group dynamics provides a powerful way to understand broader topics and generate new ideas. Whereas, in-depth interviews are more suitable for the later stages of research.

What are the main differences between key informant interviews and focus group discussions?

Key disadvantages: Focus groups require an experienced and skilled facilitator; it may be difficult to recruit and schedule appropriate participants. A key informant interview is an in-depth interview that collects information from individual experts.

What is the difference between group discussion and interview?

Group discussion is a sort of informal discussion between the members of the group in which every member is allowed to present his/her views in front of everyone. While an interview is a kind of formal interrogative session in which the person has to answer the questions asked by the interview panel.

What is the difference between a focus group and a group interview Mcq?

a) Group interviews involve fewer participants. b) Focus groups are used to study the ways people discuss a specific topic.

What is the main difference between focus group and a group interview?

The main difference being that focus groups are used for market research purposes and group interviews are used for job interview purposes.

What is the difference between collecting data using individual interviews and a focus group?

Background: Focus group data are created through interactions between participants whereas data from individual interviews are created through a dialogue between the participant and researcher, whose questions set the agenda.

More Answers On When Should Focus Groups Not Be Used

When to and When Not to Conduct a Focus Group

Why a focus group is NOT appropriate: While focus groups can provide a wealth of ideas and feedback on perceptions and opinions, qualitative data lacks statistical precision. Focus groups work well in tandem with a quantitative study (see #1 on the list above), but shouldn’t be used in place of a quantitative study when there is a lot at stake.

When Should Focus groups not be used? – The Best Educational Blog

Dec 18, 2021When Should Focus groups not be used? Do not conduct focus groups when… While focus groups can provide a wealth of consumer ideas, tendencies, and perceptions, qualitative data lacks statistical precision. The sample sizes are usually too small to yield much more than a series of hypotheses on the subject matter.

When To Use a Focus Group and When Not To – Firefox UX

When You Shouldn’t Use a Focus Group Usability on your product, website or mobile Advertising impact Design iteration Understanding what people really do (instead of what they say they do) Situations where you worry about people influencing each other

To Focus Group, or Not to Focus Group? – Decision Analyst

Do not conduct focus groups when… Major Marketing Or Budgetary Decisions Hinge On The Results. While focus groups can provide a wealth of consumer ideas, tendencies, and perceptions, qualitative data lacks statistical precision. The sample sizes are usually too small to yield much more than a series of hypotheses on the subject matter.

When to use focus groups in your market research

Focus Groups – Cons Expenses include recruitment and compensation of participants, facility rental, moderator and/or agency fees, and sometimes travel to multiple locations to get perspectives from different demographics. There’s a risk of receiving skewed results when outspoken participants dominate the discussion.

Conducting a focus group – WGEA

You should know when you have conducted enough groups (with the same sets of questions) when you are not hearing anything new anymore, reaching the point of ’data saturation’. [1] To ensure your data is well-rounded, you may consider running separate focus groups for different sections of your workforce, such as leadership teams, managers and employees.

Common Focus Group Mistakes – Relevant Insights

Results from focus groups should not be quantified. It is useless and misleading to quantify results from focus groups since they are not projectable. Focus groups are about the big picture and overall feelings (about an issue, brand, ad, etc.) and not individual comments. In Conclusion Focus groups can provide a lot of insights if done right.

Guidance on the Use of Focus Groups – Office of Research Compliance

When research involves the use of focus groups to obtain data, the participants should be given information before the focus group takes place regarding what a focus group is, what the topic is, who the other participants / stakeholders may be, where the group will meet, and how long the session will last. It is particularly important to inform participants ahead of time when sensitive topics …

Using and Analysing Focus Groups: Limitations and Possibilities

The use of focus groups in social science research. Focus groups originated in sociology (Merton and Kendall 1946), were primarily used . by market researchers in recent years (Templeton 1987 …

What is a Focus Group | Step-by-Step Guide & Examples

Dec 10, 2021In most cases, one focus group will not be sufficient to answer your research question. It is likely that you will need to schedule three to four groups. A good rule of thumb is to stop when you’ve reached a saturation point (i.e., when you aren’t receiving new responses to your questions). Most focus groups have 6-10 participants.

Section 6. Conducting Focus Groups – Community Tool Box

A focus group is a small-group discussion guided by a trained leader. It is used to learn about opinions on a designated topic, and to guide future action. Examples: A focus group of parents of preschoolers meets to discuss child care needs. Parents share their views on local child care programs, and on what could be done to improve them.

When are focus groups used? – Copley Focus

WHEN ARE FOCUS GROUPS USED? There are many reasons and applications for a focus group. However, in market research, focus groups should not be your only source of data. Usually direct observation of one person at a time is also done to supplement the data collected in a focus group. The decision to use a focus group over any other type of …

Advantages and disadvantages of focus groups – How And What

Oct 25, 2020This article aims to identify and explain some of the advantages and disadvantages of focus groups. Focus groups are often used by researchers to gather qualitative data and in-depth insights into a particular topic. Though under used, they are one of the most effective market research tools available. However, it should be mentioned focus …

When and How to Use Focus Groups – Even in a Virtual World

The Handbook for Focus Group Research, 2nd Edition, by Thomas L. Greenbaum; Focus Groups: A Practical Guide for Applied Research, 5th Edition, by Richard A. Krueger and Mary Anne Casey; Focus Groups as Qualitative Research, 2nd Edition, (Qualitative Research Methods Series 16) by David Morgan

Discuss when focus groups should and should not be used.

Do not conduct focus groups when; You have previously conducted groups on the same subject.duplicating prior focus group can be a waste of time since you might get similar type of information about a product or service as before.

Focus Groups | Better Evaluation

Focus groups is type of group interview designed to explore peoples attitudes. It can be used to find out what issues are of most concern for a community or group when little or no information is available. They are a very common technique but are can be poorly executed unless well planned and facilitated.

Why are focus groups used? – Copley Focus

They are also useful to help the researcher prepare for a study on a larger scale. Focus Groups are generally used when there is little or no knowledge about the target market. Most commonly Focus Groups are used when a new product or service is being developed and the company is not sure how the public will react.

Tips for Conducting a Successful Focus Group – Naylor

A focus group is a small-group discussion guided by a leader or moderator. Responses given in a focus group are verbal, open-ended, relatively broad and qualitative. Similar to a survey, a focus groups used to help you learn what your members or customers think about your products, services, processes or brand and to guide your future product development or marketing.

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6 | People at Work: Focus group guide Questioning Questioning.is.the.most.important.tool.the.focus.group.facilitator.will.use,.as.this.is.the.method.required.to …

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Therefore focus groups cannot be used for resolving issues or for solving problems. However, focus groupscanbeusedtogatherinformationthatcanbeusedtowardresolving issues or, more specifically, to gather solutions to address the problems.

Advantages & Limitations of Focus Groups | UI/UX Agency Frontend.com

The Advantages of Focus Groups. Focus groups are often used when deciding on the look and feel of a website or product. They gather useful data on emotive issues as people are quite willing to give their opinions and impressions of items. They will allow you to develop an appropriate presentation design by pointing out what things work or do …

Focus Group – Learn About Different Types of Focus Groups

Sep 28, 2021This is done to change the dynamics of the group and generate more varied responses. 5. Mini Focus Group. A focus group that consists of fewer participants – usually four or five – which creates a more intimate group. 6. Online Focus Group. Participants respond and share information through online means.

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Focus groups should only be used when all four of the following conditions are met. 1. You lack any knowledge about what customers (or other key stakeholders) think in a particular area. This condition occurs sometimes. More commonly, however, you have some knowledge and the key is to decide what additional knowledge might affect decision-making.

Using Focus Groups in Schools – SAGE Research Methods

Print ISBN: 9780761978190 | Online ISBN: 9781412985765. Abstract: ’Because of its comprehensive scope, this guidebook can be a single tool for designing and implementing focus groups in schools’ Patricia A All, Assistant Superintendent Olathe District Schools Olathe, Kanas. Focus groups of parents, students, community members, or teachers …

Focus Groups: What, How, and Why – CleverX Blog

May 2, 2021Focus groups are about the overall picture and mass perception, not individual details. Focus groups in market research. Predetermine your questioning route, interview guide, or protocol is and follow a logical sequence to mimic a natural exchange. The purpose of a focus group is not to arrive at a consensus, some level of agreement, or make a …

When NOT to use Focus Groups – Limitations – Best Practices

When NOT to use Focus Groups – Limitations. You should not use Focus Groups when quantitative information is needed (when you want to know the percentage of people who will buy a product or vote for some candidate). The small size of focus groups makes any estimates of quantitative proportions unreliable, even if the members of the focus group are representative of the target population.

Conducting a focus group – WGEA

You should know when you have conducted enough groups (with the same sets of questions) when you are not hearing anything new anymore, reaching the point of ’data saturation’. [1] To ensure your data is well-rounded, you may consider running separate focus groups for different sections of your workforce, such as leadership teams, managers and employees.

When Using Focus Groups Makes Sense – Relevant Insights

The Right Goals. Focus groups make sense when the primary goals of the research are to: Explore feelings, perceptions, and motivations. Understand why consumers react to a product or advertising message in a certain way. Provide initial guidance to the creative process (e.g., advertising, packaging, product development)

Focus Groups – When Should You Use Them?

Yes. Focus groups are nearly always detrimental to decision making. There are some exceptions, but these occur so rarely that most organizations should avoid focus groups. In this article, I’ll discuss the rare situations in which focus groups help and the main reasons why they usually don’t.

Guidance on the Use of Focus Groups – Office of Research Compliance

When research involves the use of focus groups to obtain data, the participants should be given information before the focus group takes place regarding what a focus group is, what the topic is, who the other participants / stakeholders may be, where the group will meet, and how long the session will last. It is particularly important to inform participants ahead of time when sensitive topics …

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