A Manual for
the Use of Focus GroupsA Manual for
the Use of Focus Groups
METHODS FOR SOCIAL RESEARCH IN DISEASE
Susan Dawson and Lenore Manderson
Tropical Health Program University of Queensland Medical School
Herston Road, Herston
Brisbane Qld 4006
and
Veronica L. Tallo
Research Institute for Tropical Medicine
Alabang, Muntinlupa
Metro Manila
Philippines
WHO Social and Economic Research (SER)
UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR)
Published by International Nutrition Foundation for Developing Countries (INFDC), Boston, MA, USA.
(c) Copyright 1993. All rights reserved.
This manual is based on the document issued by the UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases as: The Focus Group Manual: Methods for Social Research in Tropical Diseases No. 1 (TDR/SER/MSR/92.1).
ISBN # 0-9635522-2-8
The digitalization of this publication was made possible by a grant from the Nestlé Foundation
Part I: Team leader focus group training
Section 1: Deciding to use focus group training
Section 2: Designing the study
Section 3: Selecting and training staff
Section 4: Selecting the study participants
Section 5: Developing the question line
Section 6: Managing the information you collect
Section 7: Analysis of the results
Part II: Staff training for focus group discussions
Section 1: Introduction
Section 2: Introduction to focus groups
Section 3: Overview of skills training session
Section 4: Roles of the team
Section 5: Personal characteristics of the moderator
Section 6: Preparation for each focus group discussion
Section 7: Entering the community and activities for the reception of participants
Section 8: Beginning the focus group discussion
Section 9: Moderator skills: Asking questions
Section 10: Encouraging and controlling the discussion
Section 11: Moderator and observer skills: Observing non-verbal messages
Section 12: Observer skills: Recording the session
Section 13: Closing the discussion and meeting
Section 14: The debrief