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Youth led focus groups - bringing young people in evaluation into FOCUS

Community Prevention Initiative WorkshopYouth In Focus: A Step-By Step Guide to Conducting Youth-Led Focus Groups

Angela Da ReCARS Consultant

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Welcome!Who are You?

Who am I?

Why are we here?

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Clumps and clumps with a twist

……….A game

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Housekeeping

Agenda Group Agreements Parking Lot Expectations Restrooms Breaks

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THE SCIENCE>>>>

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Research methods, when to choose focus groups

What is the purpose of the evaluation? Who is the information for? Who will use the findings? What kinds of information are needed? When is the information needed? What resources are available?

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Two Categories of Research

Qualitative Quantitative

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Qualitative Defined

Qualitative research - analysis of data such as words, pictures or objects. Tends to be subjective in nature.

Includes: Anecdotes Case studies Focus groups Key informant interviews Observations Analysis of existing files

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Quantitative Defined

Quantitative research - involves analysis of numerical data, is more measurable.

Includes: Counting Checklists Surveys Pre-post tests Analysis of existing statistics

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Multi-method Evaluation

Multiple perspectives Balance Utility Credibility Methodological rigor

Benefits

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Multi-method evaluation

Expertise needs Cost Complexity

Limitations

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Who can do Research?

YOU CAN DO RESEARCH!!!!!!!

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What is a Focus Group?

A focus group is a form of qualitative research in which a small group of similar individuals are invited to provide specialized knowledge or insight into the issue under study.

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THE ART>>>>

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Focus Groups

Provides insights Reveals consensus and diversity Richness of information Defining of reasons Instructive

Advantages

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Focus Groups

Representation Information overload Subjective Opinion dominance

Limitations

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Focus Groups – Why we use them

Hearing from those without a voice Gaining in-depth information Community needs assessment Program refinement Evaluation

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Step 1 – How to Use Results

Intended use of results guides the delivery and content.

What you want determines what you’ll need

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Step 2 - Select Target Audience

Whose behavior are we trying to change (target population)?

Who all contributes to the desired behavior change. How? Do they have insight into the topic?

Who represents the target population?

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Step 3 – Develop Plan

Which groups will be interviewed How many of each group Develop recruitment plan

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Finding Participants – Part 1

Gaining access to your target audience

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Finding Participants – Part 2

Invitation

Convenience Schedules

Incentives

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Finding Participants – Part 3

Making sure they show up Reminders

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Develop Questions

Avoid yes/no questions Participants may choose to speak from

observations, not always self experience Use simple, clear language Avoid biased questions Choose relevant topics Avoid leading questions Move from general to specific

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Develop questions continued

Follow-up questions for depth Probing question, examples “Why” , why to avoid.

Get them thinking

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Activity – Part 1 Preparing questions in advance

Break into groups of 2 people, each duo will develop mock interview questions. Begin with general questions and add more specific, probing questions.

Example: What do you think of your city? What is your favorite place there, why do you like it?

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Activity - Part 2

…now, find another pair and take turns asking the questions your team developed

Note the listening skills of the interviewer:

Did they make eye contact? Did their body language encourage

participation?

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Characteristics of a good facilitator Good listening

skills Personable Unbiased Friendly Knowledgeable Approachable Inclusive

Capable of not reacting to answers (positively or negatively)

Capable of handling all types of respondents

Flexible

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Activity – Listening Skit

We were given two ears, but only one mouth. That’s because listening is twice as hard as talking.

The key is to Act like a good listener tilt your face toward the speakerlook at the other personuse receptive language “I see, uh huh”concentrate on what the speaker is saying

Activity - Vacation Chat

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Youth as Facilitators

Advantages Youth as change

agents Peers provide a level

of comfort Can speak the youth

language Can translate youth

culture Others???

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Working with Youth as Participants

Permission from parent or guardian This rule is very important: direct participants to speak

from observations of what their peers are doing, not from self experience

Confidentiality must be stressed so that youth feel safe to speak.

Caution against group responses that may keep others from sharing.

Restrict side conversations, and interruptions If the group is very eager to talk, may use a “talking

stick” If group not talkative, may go around with an option to

pass Others….

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Running the Group - Timekeeping 101 Keeping time Determine length first and do a trial run Be strict with time, but also BE FLEXIBLE – Communication with your timekeeper

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Running the Group – Maintain neutrality Behave with interest – but not with

favoritism Avoid affirming (positive) statements Avoid negative body language or facial

responses

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Running the Group – Give ‘em’ all a chance

Encourage non-talkers to be more expressive

Make sure all members feel valued Give both verbal and non-verbal (a nod)

cues to participants

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Running the Group – Set the Stage

Create a friendly, comfortable atmosphere Think about the set-up of the room How you greet people (chat and be friendly) Consider an atmosphere that would make

you open up The facilitator sets the tone. Your

actions and re-actions will determine the success of the focus group.

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When the Group Meets

Review the purpose and goals If intent is to record, as permission and explain use

as a recording Do introductions Go over ground rules:

RESPECT - others and their opinions Encourage opinions – but also offer the right to pass No cell phones/distractions What is said in group, stays in group

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When the Group Meets continued

When all the questions have been asked, ask if anyone has any other comments

Tell the group about any next steps thatwill occur and what they can expect next

Thank the group for coming!

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Activity – Plan and facilitate a focus group Break into two groups.

Each group will design and implement a mini focus group from start to finish. Determine the purpose, create the questions, choose a facilitator and timekeeper, facilitate the focus group using the other team as your participants.

10 minutes prep, 10 minutes facilitation for each group

Debrief

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After the Focus Group – Plan & Transcribe the Data

Have a clear plan Plan for lots o’ time Transcript rules Do not delay, memories fade

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Examine the Data

Data analysis

Use a team approach

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Results - Disseminate

Identify repeating ideas and themes

Sharing results

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Disseminate Results continued

Many opportunities: reports, news, media, web…

Use of quotes

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Results – Use Them!

Use the results- behavior change, institutional change, social norms, policy change

Case Study - alcopops

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The End….

Questions Evaluation Thank You

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Where to Get More Information http://www.cars-rp.org http://gardnercenter.stanford.edu http://www.evaluationtools.org http://captus.samhsa.gov/western/

resources/bp/step7/index.cfm http://www.socialresearchmethods.net http://www.amstat.org http://casat.unr.edu/westcaptAngela Da Re – da_re@juno.com