Designing and Moderating Focus Groups

Date:

05/02/2025

Organised by:

Qualitative Training

Presenter:

Dr Karen Lumsden

Level:

Entry (no or almost no prior knowledge)

Contact:

Dr Karen Lumsden
Email: karen@qualitativetraining.com
Web: www.qualitativetraining.com

video conference logo

Venue: Online

Description:

Overview:

This live Zoom course provides you with an overview of the main principles of focus groups as a qualitative research method, factors to consider in the design of your focus groups, and key moderator skills for facilitating your focus groups in person and online.

Focus groups are a popular qualitative research method but it is vital to understand the kind of data they generate and the importance of group interaction for generating insightful and useful data. As a research method, focus groups require considerable questioning and moderation skills.

This interactive online course helps you to improve the quality of your focus group research. It provides participants with a clear understanding of when and how to use focus groups as a qualitative method. We also consider how to modify the style and approach of focus groups depending on the sensitivity of the research topic, the nature of the participants, and the mode of delivery (i.e. in person or online).

By the end of the course participants will be equipped to independently design, undertake, and moderate focus group discussions.

 

We cover:

- The principles of focus groups as qualitative research method

- The importance of group interaction

- Designing your focus group study

- Composition of focus groups

- Running focus groups in person and online

- Dynamics and logistics of focus groups

- How to effectively moderate your focus groups and deal with challenging situations

- Ensuring rigour in the design of a focus group study

 

Who should attend?

This course will be useful for researchers who are new to focus groups or who wish to brush up on their focus group design and/or moderation skills. This includes doctoral students and academics. Researchers using qualitative methods in government, policy, consultancy, social research organisations and charities will also find this training useful.

Please note: this is an interactive live course with presentations, group activities, group discussions, and opportunities to ask questions. You should be prepared to participate and have use of camera and mic on Zoom.

 

Trainer biography

Dr Karen Lumsden is a qualitative trainer, consultant and coach, and Senior Lecturer in Sociology at the University of Aberdeen, UK.

She has over 20 years’ experience delivering qualitative methods courses and training to academics, PhD students, social researchers, and practitioners. This includes courses at the Universities of Aberdeen, Glasgow, Essex, Auckland, Kingston, via the Social Research Association and the European Consortium for Political Research, and also for government departments, NHS, charities, police organisations, social research and market research organisations. She has has written and edited a number of books and journal articles on qualitative methods including Crafting Autoethnography (Routledge, 2023) and Reflexivity: Theory, Method, Practice (2019). She is on the Editorial Board of the journal Qualitative Research. For more details of services visit: www.qualitativetraining.com

 

Bookings:

Bookings for this course can be made via Eventbrite tickets. If your organisation requires payment to be made via invoice please contact me directly to check if this will be possible. I only issue invoices for UK based organisations or individuals, and confirm booking/s once payment terms are mutually agreed and confirmed in writing prior to the event date or payment has been received. Email: karen@qualitativetraining.com

 

Refund policy:

There is a 14 day 'cooling off' period from the date of booking on this course. The refund policy is 100% refund up to 25 working days prior to the course date. This does not include the Eventbrite ticket fee which is non-refundable. After 25 days the entire course fee is payable.

If the course is fully booked and has a waiting list then transfer to another course or future course date might be possible, however this is at the discretion of the trainer.

Please note that Dr Karen Lumsden delivers a range of courses for other training providers in addition to these Qualitative Training courses. She takes no responsibility or liability for individuals booking on similar courses or training with other providers which may contain similar or the same course content. Refunds will not be given under these circumstances once the training has been partly/fully consumed.

Cost:

£140 (discounted rate for PhD students / unwaged)
£180 (full rate)

Website and registration:

Register for this course

Region:

International

Keywords:

Data Collection, Qualitative Interviewing, Focus groups


Related publications and presentations from our eprints archive:

Data Collection
Qualitative Interviewing
Focus groups

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