Course timings: 10.00 to 15.00 (GMT)

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.

You will receive a certificate of completion after attending the day's training.

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 presentation, group activities, group discussions, and opportunities to ask questions. You should be prepared to participate and have access to a working camera and mic to take part on Zoom.

Trainer biography

Dr Karen Lumsden is an expert qualitative trainer, consultant, coach and mentor. She has held a number of academic posts, including most recently, Senior Lecturer in Sociology at the University of Aberdeen, UK. She was previously Associate Professor in Criminology at the University of Leicester, Assistant Professor at the University of Nottingham, and Senior Lecturer in Sociology at Loughborough University.

She has over 20 years’ experience delivering qualitative methods courses and training to academics, PhD students, social researchers, and practitioners. This includes courses at universities including, for example, Aberdeen, Glasgow, Essex, Kings College London, Royal Holloway, Kingston, Cardiff ,and Bournemouth. She has delivered training for the University of Auckland, New Zealand, and the Chinese University of Hong Kong. She regularly delivers a range of qualitative methods courses via the Social Research Association, and delivers Focus Group training for the European Consortium for Political Research. She has designed and delivered bespoke training for local authorities, government departments, ONS, NHS, charities, police organisations, and social and market research organisations.

Karen 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 and was previously Chair of the Editorial Board of Sociological Research Online, and on the Editorial Board of Sociology. For more details of her work and services visit: www.qualitativetraining.com

Bookings:

Bookings for this course can be made via Eventbrite tickets. If your organisation requires payment via invoice, please contact me directly to check if this will be possible. I only issue invoices when payment terms are mutually agreed and confirmed in writing prior to the event date. Email: karen@qualitativetraining.com for invoice queries.

Refund policy:

There is a 14 day 'cooling off' period from the date of booking on this course (unless there are 14 days or less between the booking date and training date, in which case, no refund is possible). Out with this, the refund policy is 100% refund up to 21 working days prior to the course date. After 21 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. You may be able to transfer your place to another person at your organisation, 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 course content. Refunds will not be given under these circumstances.

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Focus Groups: Design and Facilitation