Focus group discussion

What is it?

A group discussion among selected individuals with specialized knowledge on a specific issue, guided by a facilitator. Although the discussion may focus on a specific topic, the group members may talk freely and spontaneously about the issue

Use it to…

Identify causes of and possible solutions to risk related problems in a community.

Understand how specific groups of people think about different risks and ways to address them.

Generate discussion on a specific topic, such as family planning needs, road safety, gender participation, disaster preparedness.

Gain a deeper understanding of risk related issues.

Gauge the impact of activities eg. impact of health or disaster education on people’s awareness.

Learn how to do focus groups

A step-by-step guide to using focus group discussions in EVCA

Want to go more in depth?

Explore how to include new aspects into focus groups

© International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies 2018

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