Discussion session hosted by Leonie van Drooge at the Workshop exploring Qualitative and Mixed Methods in Research Evaluation and Policy 2015 (QMM2015)

1. Focus!
Leonie van Drooge & Stefan de Jong

2. 2 | Focus! | Leonie van Drooge & Stefan de Jong | QMM2015
Focus groups
• What & why focusgroups
• Methodology of focusgroups
• Examples of focusgroups (and design options)
• An evaluation protocol
• A policy concept
• A vision
• Results & lessons
• Did we do focusgroups?
• How to use focusgroups in future

3. 3 | Focus! | Leonie van Drooge & Stefan de Jong | QMM2015
What & why focus groups?
• Qualitative method for data collection
• Focus
• Group - interaction
• Dynamic social context
Participants explain themselves to and query other
participants
• Active moderator
• Understanding perceptions and attitudes

4. 4 | Focus! | Leonie van Drooge & Stefan de Jong | QMM2015
Methodology
1. Design of the groups
1. Number of groups
2. Number of participants
3. Composition of groups (heterogeneity – homogeneity)
2. Structure of the focus group
3. Datacollection
4. Role of moderator

5. 5 | Focus! | Leonie van Drooge & Stefan de Jong | QMM2015
Example of focusgroups: an evaluation protocol
• 2 focus groups with well informed users
• 2 scenarios and 6 different aspects

6. 6 | Focus! | Leonie van Drooge & Stefan de Jong | QMM2015
Example of focusgroups: a policy concept
• 6 groups with participants who were experienced
• segmentation schedule: discipline / sub discipline /
university / seniority / researcher or support staff
• 3 rounds (and an introduction):
• Personal example
• Design, visualise and discuss future; formulate conditions
and needs; presentation plenary;
• Prioritisation and discussion of needs

7. 7 | Focus! | Leonie van Drooge & Stefan de Jong | QMM2015
Example of focus groups: a vision
• 3 focusgroups with directors or research coordinators of almost
all organisations involved (charities)
• 3 questions:
• What is your charity
• What does the collaboration of charities mean to you
• Where will the collaboration funds be in 10 years time?

8. 8 | Focus! | Leonie van Drooge & Stefan de Jong | QMM2015
Results and lessons
• Perceptions indeed!
• Development of a novel idea during a focusgroup
• Similar dynamics across several focus groups
• Some issues are agreed upon quickly
• Focusgroups as a learning tool (or rather informative at least)
• Focusgroups as a means to stimulate discussions
• Thank you!

9. 9 | Focus! | Leonie van Drooge & Stefan de Jong | QMM2015
Did we do focus groups?
• No – yes – no
• Evaluation protocol:
focus group or mixed method?
limited number of groups
• Policy concept:
very much according to “rules”
moderator or trainer?
• Vision:
limited number of groups and of participants (almost all
organisations represented)
group composition

10. 10 | Focus! | Leonie van Drooge & Stefan de Jong | QMM2015
Some other focusgroups
• As a tool in evaluation (stakeholder consultation)
• Technology assessment

11. 11 | Focus! | Leonie van Drooge & Stefan de Jong | QMM2015
The future of focusgroups?
• Since the 1920’s
• Little use in science (policy) studies
• More common in some other disciplines
• Widely used in marketing research
• Our experience:
• well informed participants were not so well informed
• perceptions and intentions differed
• wishes and realities were similar
• We are involved in the design of policies – use focus groups

12. 12 | Focus! | Leonie van Drooge & Stefan de Jong | QMM2015
Thank you!