Developing Questions for Focus Groups

by Richard A. Krueger

Asking the right questions is critical in focus group interviewing. This book describes a practical process for identifying powerful themes and then offers an easy-to-understand strategy for translating those themes into questions. Richard Krueger suggests ways of categorizing, phrasing and sequencing focus group questions. Going beyond material presented in his earlier books, Krueger shares ideas for questions that get participants actively involved in the focus group interview. For example, he suggests asking participants to make lists, create report cards, sort pictures, draw, cut and paste, or participate in a mini-debate. The results of these activities not only yield insightful information but are also interesting and fun. This book helps make the process of developing good questions easier by outlining a process and offering many examples.

Genres: Research Methods

128 pages, Paperback

First published July 24, 1997

Reviews

[Laura May · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book really helpful. I'm pretty public about the fact that methods freak me out (technically just the analysis framework, but let's generalise), and this book was useful to both reassure me that what I'm doing is valid and legitimate, and guide and improve my question development.

One thing I found odd were the questions in the appendix - weird issues were being investigated, like the role of churches in reducing teen drug use, and teenage pregnancy. One question made me laugh, though - it asked what could be done at the church to "turn you on". So that was exciting.

Either way, I found this helpful, and will probably rent the planning book on Kindle next.

[Xiangjinchen]

very good

[Babette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Useful!

[Kathrine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some very useful ideas for how to design and structure questions for focus groups.