Developing Questions for Focus Groups

by Richard A. Krueger

• ISBN13: 9780761908197
• ISBN10: 0761908196
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1997-07-24
• Publisher: Sage Publications, Inc

Summary

Struggling with focus groups questions? Asking the right questions is critical in focus group interviewing. Developing Questions in a Focus Group describes a practical process for identifying powerful themes and offers an easy-to-understand strategy for translating those themes into questions. Richard A. 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 by 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 doable by outlining a process and offering many examples. After reading this book, your focus groups will never be the same.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	xiii	(2)
Introduction to the Focus Group Kit	xv	(4)
About This Book	xix
Part I: THINKING ABOUT QUESTIONS	1	(18)
1. Guiding Principles of Asking Questions	3	(6)
2. The Topic Guide Versus the Questioning Route	9	(4)
3. How and Where to Begin: Sequence for Developing Questions	13	(6)
Part II: THE ART AND MECHANICS OF ASKING GOOD QUESTIONS	19	(42)
4. Categories of Questions	21	(10)
5. Phrasing the Questions	31	(6)
6. Sequencing the Questions	37	(8)
7. Probes, Follow-Ups, and Unplanned Questions	45	(4)
8. Know the Limits	49	(4)
9. Changing Questions: The Importance of Consistency	53	(4)
10. Pilot Testing and Reviewing the Plan	57	(4)
Part III: QUESTIONS THAT ENGAGE PARTICIPANTS	61	(22)
11. Listing, Rating, and Choosing Questions	63	(8)
12. Projective Questions	71	(8)
13. Group Activities	79	(4)
Appendix: Examples of Questions	83	(18)
References	101	(2)
Index to This Volume	103	(2)
Index to the Focus Group Kit	105	(2)
About the Author	107