10 Important Tips and Techniques for Conducting a Focus Group

1) Conduct your session in a quiet location (remember to keep windows closed in the warmer weather to avoid recording outside noises).

2) Ask the participants to introduce themselves and offer some brief information about themselves before beginning discussions. A couple of minutes of introduction by each participant can later help the transcriber identify each voice throughout the recording. This small effort at the beginning of the focus group will help enable the transcriber to accurately specify the speaker.

3) Request that all participants speak loud enough for recording purposes and to speak slowly and clearly into the microphone. If you think someone may be difficult to hear or understand, ask them to move closer to the microphone and politely remind them that the session is being recorded.

4) If at all possible, ask that participants not speak over each other. Valuable information is lost when everyone is speaking at once

5) Whenever possible, the moderate could thank the speaker by referring to his or her name when he or she has finished commenting.

6) Designate a time for food and beverages when no recording is taking place. Pouring of water, clinging of silverware, etc., interfere with recording.

7)Request participants to turn OFF their cellular phones. Admonish attendees to put their cellular phones on vibrate or silent.

8) Test your equipment prior to the start of the meeting. Make sure recording levels are audible from all points of the room and that microphones are placed accordingly. Additionally, make sure that the equipment is monitored throughout the session to ensure that no technical difficulties arise.

9) When returning from a break, make sure each person resumes their same position for continuity. For example, if the recording is not of good quality, a soft-spoken person may be sitting in a place where the microphone is not as close to them, and now you are not able to hear them at all.

10) Use an experienced audio visual company to record your meetings. They will know exactly what to do to ensure that you get the best sound quality possible.

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