Process: This is a practical workshop where you will apply your pre-existing knowledge of focus group research.

You will find example reading material below (available through UoN Online Catalogue). You can choose your own texts if you have a preferred author or want to understand your own disciplinary focus. The important thing is that you have done a lot of focussed reading, thinking and planning before attending this practical session as you will be putting your knowledge into practice in this session. General themes such as ‘shopping’ or ‘postgrad life’ will be used during the workshop to develop your skills in facilitating focus groups.

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of this session you will have:

• Reflected on and shared your theoretical knowledge of focus group research
• Facilitated and observed short focus groups in action
• Engaged in practical activities to extend your range and style of questioning in focus group research

Examples of appropriate reading (all available from Nottingham University Libraries):

Doing focus groups. Rosaline Barbour.

Rosaline S Barbour London : Sage 2007

Focus groups in social research [electronic resource]. Michael Bloor ... [et al.].

London : SAGE 2001
Full text available online 

Focus groups in social research. Michael Bloor ... [et al.].

London : SAGE 2001

Social research methods / Alan Bryman.

5th ed. Oxford : Oxford University Press 2016

 Qualitative research: issues of theory, method and practice / edited by David Silverman.

3rd ed. London : SAGE c2011

Using focus groups to understand experiences of health and illness

Kitzinger, Jenny

Oxford University Press 2013

Understanding and Using Health Experiences, Chapter 6

Accessibility

The following table shows a summary of what is needed to participate in the course. 

If you feel you will experience any difficulties participating, please let us know via the ‘special requirements’ tab, providing as much information as possible. The special requirements tab can be completed when you book your place. Alternatively, you can contact us directly at ra-training@nottingham.ac.uk.

Print off pre-requisite paperwork/ resources and bring them to the course
Bring your own laptop/ PC to the course (optional)
Access seminar room on campus
Attend the course at the specified date and time
Watch and listen to the course tutor(s) and/ or other attendees
Take part in group activities/ discussions

Booking Conditions

Latecomer policy

Researchers should plan to arrive prior to the advertised course start time. Except for exceptional reasons, there will be no admittance to a Researcher Academy or Faculty Training Programme (FTP) course 15 minutes after the advertised course start time.

Importance of booking commitment

When booking on to a Researcher Academy short course you are entering into a commitment to attend. If you find that you are no longer available to attend you MUST cancel your place (on the system if more than three days before the course) or if at short notice by emailing ra-training@nottingham.ac.uk. This will ensure that your place can be offered to another researcher on the waiting list. Failure to cancel a place results in other researchers missing out on places through the waiting list process.

It is unacceptable for researchers to just not attend when booked onto a course. The Researcher Academy maintains records of those who repeatedly do not attend courses they have booked. This may affect future eligibility to book onto further Researcher Academy courses and will affect considerations for Researcher Academy funded opportunities.

Pre-Requisites

Pre-requisites

You should already have theoretical knowledge of the following:

• Strengths and weaknesses of the method
• Limitations of the method, or reasons for choosing to use focus groups (or not)
• Good practice in setting up and conducting focus groups

Before enrolling on this course you should have read extensively on qualitative methods. As a minimum you should have spent time considering your research in the light of reading basic research texts and texts that focus specifically on Focus Group methodology. 

Do not attend if you have not done this.

Web Notes