Focus groups

(Former name: Working with focus groups)

Course summary

Do you know what your customers are thinking and feeling? A focus group can help you find out. A well run focus group can give you valuable insights and help you plan better products and services. This practical course will teach you how to run a focus group give you the skills you need to set up and run great focus groups.

Course outline

How to Run a Focus Group: Running a Focus Group Training

Over the day you will cover:

  • when and how to use focus group research methodolgy
  • establishing appropriate aims and objectives
  • preparing a topic book
  • recruiting the participants
  • finding the right venue
  • identifying and formulating the right questions
  • developing and using visual aids 
  • moderating skills
    • creating an informal, relaxed atmosphere
    • asking questions
    • using visual aids, case studies and other stimuli
    • keeping discussion on track
    • handling difficult situations
  • recording the discussion
  • analysing and reporting findings
  • a year of free support

This running a focus group course takes place at the Centre's Central London training suite. 

"Really enjoyed it, came away feeling informed. Great to have a good guide to take away".  VD, Turning Point

"A huge amount achieved in one day! The trainer was extremely professional with an ability to maintain everyones interest." GG, Touchstone

"Great course - practical and based on my needs.  I will now be able to run focus groups with confidence."  AM, London Borough of Islington

Who is this course for?

The people who will find this running a focus group training course useful are:
- communication and marketing professionals who want to run focus groups
- managers who want to undertake stakeholder research
- anyone who wants to commission an agency to conduct a focus group and would like to understand the process

The Centre works with people from all sectors including the public sector, voluntary sector, corporate sector and private sector.

What will this course help me do: learning outcomes?

The how to run a focus group course will help you understand the role of focus groups, and enable you to take a hands on role in running a focus group. After the course you will be able to identity when a focus group is the appropriate qualitative research method, develop and run an effective focus group, analyse and report on the outcomes from a focus group.

Other courses to consider

You may also be interested to take a look at some of our other training courses such as PR STRATEGIES THAT WORK; WRITING FOR THE WEB and PROJECT MANAGEMENT.  The Centre also offers communication consultancy, including conducting focus groups and other forms of stakeholder consultation.

Course dates

22 October, 2012

This course starts at 10am and will finish by 4.30pm. Lunch and refreshments are provided.

Course fee

  • £230 plus VAT small charity price (applies to registered charities with an annual turnover of less than £3m)
  • £340 plus VAT not-for-profit price (applies to all other charities and all other not-for-profit organisations, including public sector and housing)
  • £390 plus VAT standard price (applies to all other organisations)

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