. what does a focus group do in the course of acquiring new computer system

by Reba Rath 4 min read

What is the purpose of a focus group?

The main purpose of focus group research is to draw upon respondents' attitudes, feelings, beliefs, experiences and reactions in a way in which would not be feasible using other methods, for example observation, one-to-one interviewing, or questionnaire surveys.

What is a focus group and how is it used in the development of new products or services?

Focus groups are one of the most effective and popular market research methods available. Used to gather qualitative data and in-depth insights, they enable researchers to collect information on anything from products and services to beliefs and perceptions in order to reveal true customer attitudes and opinions.

What is the purpose of a focus group quizlet?

The purpose of conducting a focus group is to better understand how people feel or think about an issue, idea, product, or service. Focus groups are used to gather opinions. Participants are selected because they have certain characteristics in common that relate to the topic of the focus group.

Why are focus groups effective in research?

Focus groups can provide information and insights about the perceptions, opinions, feelings, and attitudes of clients or potential clients towards certain products and services. The value of the information is that it allows professionals to see reality from their clients' point of view.

What are the advantages of focus groups?

Advantages of a Focus Group 1 Focus groups are a cheaper means of obtaining information, as compared to individual interviews. 2 Participants are able to listen to responses of other participants and “feed off each other.” 3 The groups generally result in more data being gathered, as participants are given the opportunity to rebut each other. 4 Compared to a quantitative survey, these groups are able to gather more information about perceptions, attitudes, and experiences.

How long is a focus group?

They usually last for about one to two hours, during which group members are usually asked five or six questions. The discussion is then carefully analyzed to provide insights as to how a product, service, or opportunity might be perceived by the group. The qualitative data is used to develop products, services, or opportunities that will meet customer requirements#N#Demand Curve The demand curve is a line graph utilized in economics, that shows how many units of a good or service will be purchased at various prices#N#.

Why are focus groups cheaper than interviews?

The groups generally result in more data being gathered, as participants are given the opportunity to rebut each other.

What are the different types of focus groups?

Types of Focus Groups. 1. Two-Way. One group watches another group answer the questions posed by the moderator. By listening to what the other group thinks and says, the group that listens is able to facilitate more discussion and potentially draw different conclusions. 2.

What is group dynamics?

Group dynamics, such as groupthink#N#Groupthink Groupthink is a term developed by social psychologist Irving Janis in 1972 to describe faulty decisions made by a group due to group pressures. Groupthink is a phenomenon in which the ways of approaching problems or matters are dealt by the consensus of a group rather than by individuals acting independently.#N#, may inhibit discussion.

What is a focus group?

A focus group is a gathering of stakeholders who are selected to participate in a planned discussion intended to uncover perceptions about a particular topic in a non-threatening environment.

Why are focus groups important?

This is because, if orchestrated correctly, focus groups can yield valuable and actionable information. Following are some advantages of using focus groups: They help obtain information about personal and group opinions. They provide the opportunity to ask follow-up questions.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of a focus group?

While there are distinct advantages to conducting a focus group, there are some disadvantages, as well: Disagreements between group members and irrelevant discussion can distract from the main topic. Focus groups findings can be difficult to analyze.

How to find the right person for a focus group?

Following are some tips for finding the right person to conduct your focus groups: 1. Find Someone Unbiased. The atmosphere of the focus group is set by the focus group leader. It’s important to find someone unbiased who will seek to create an atmosphere where participants feel safe to speak freely.

Why are focus groups important?

Well firstly, one of the main benefits of focus groups is that they offer an in-depth understanding of the participants. This enables researchers to uncover personal attitudes and beliefs that other market research methods can’t replicate - which, in turn, means more insightful results. Additionally, because of the constant interaction ...

Where do focus groups take place?

Traditionally, focus groups take place in person, usually at a facilitated location. However, thanks to advancements in technology, it’s becoming increasingly popular for focus groups to take place online rather than face-to-face. In an online focus group, users login to a secure site where they are interviewed via webcam - but of course, ...

What is the benefit of online focus groups?

One of the biggest benefits of online focus groups is that there are no geographical restrictions because people don’t have to travel to a specific location to take part.

What is focus group research?

The lowdown on focus groups. Focus groups are one of the most effective and popular market research methods available. Used to gather qualitative data and in-depth insights, they enable researchers to collect information on anything from products and services to beliefs and perceptions in order to reveal true customer attitudes and opinions.

How do focus groups benefit clients?

In a focus group setting, the client can be present on the day to observe the focus group. If the focus group is taking place in a specialist viewing facility, they will often be able to watch via a one-way mirror, or if it is taking place online, they can log in to view the discussion live and even talk to the moderator in real time and shape the direction the conversation is heading . All of this has the added benefit of the research having more credibility with the clients.

Is a focus group good for market research?

When focus groups might not be useful. Despite all the positives, focus groups aren’t always the best option for qualitative market research. One of the main weaknesses of focus groups is that, as a qualitative methodology, they use a statistically small sample size population – which means the opinions expressed may not be representative ...

What is a focus group?

Focus group, gathering of a small number of individuals who share common interests in specific issues or events and who are asked to take part in an interactive discussion . Focus groups typically are used to understand how people with common interests feel and think about an issue, a product, a service, or an idea.

Why are focus groups useful?

Although focus groups are a useful means of reflecting individuals’ true emotions and behaviours toward subjective issues, the difficulty in obtaining subjective information from a small number of homogenous participants can result in lower external validity than other research methods.

Why is it so difficult to get focus group data?

Acquiring focus group data can be difficult because of both the spontaneity of respondents and the environment in which a focus group convenes. Whereas some focus groups meet in person, others meet via telephone or the Internet. Transcripts, recordings, notes, and memory-based tools often are employed in order to obtain significant information ...

Why do we use focus groups?

Focus groups are not a substitute for understanding market problems, but they can supplement the process. You can use focus groups to validate a wide range of issues such as: Your product solution. Your messaging. Your overall strategic direction.

What are the advantages of focus groups?

Advantages of focus groups. Focus groups offer the following advantages: They are relatively quick, inexpensive and simple to arrange. They are effective for accumulating extensive data in your customers’ own words and developing deeper insights into their wants and needs. Focus groups succeed in acquiring data from children ...

Is a focus group appropriate?

Despite the advantages listed above, focus groups are not appropriate in every situation. Bear in mind that they do have several limitations: Participants’ responses are not independent, as they occur in a group setting. Several dominant members can affect the results of the session.

What is a focus group?

A focus group is a form of qualitative research, that revolves around a group discussion or a group interview. Usually, the moderator asks questions to participants to assess their perceptions or beliefs about a certain feature of product/ service, brand, idea, etc.

I. Planning phase of a focus group

Focus groups have the word “focus” for a reason. In general, you don’t want to go too broad. Choose one specific subject and try to come up with relevant questions. So, instead of asking a lot of different questions about your product/ service – focus on 1 thing. It can be user experience, brand identity, or anything else.

II. On-the-Spot Phase of a Focus Group

A lot of people will likely be shy to speak up. That’s why it’s your responsibility to create a welcoming and relaxed atmosphere. You can do so by doing an ice-breaking exercise.

III. Analysis phase of a focus group

Next, you want your findings to be documented in written form. The easiest way to do it is by using speech recognition software, like Amberscript. Upload your file, make some quick adjustments, and export. Having a transcript simplifies data analysis and makes it easy to share the output with your team.

Why are focus groups not used?

Focus groups typically aren’t used to uncover deep opinions and behavior because they don’t require an in-depth discussion about the subject. When you want to get a deeper understanding of user behavior, you’ll need to use it together with other user research methods.

Why are focus groups important?

Focus groups play an important role in the product design process . They help the product team to collect feedback from the target audience and use this information to improve a design before releasing it to the market. But opinions and attitudes are not always enough for creating a good user experience, and that is the reason why it’s necessary ...

Why do focus groups need a facilitator?

That’s why focus groups require an experienced facilitator to guide discussions and to encourage participants to get involved. A facilitator should control the discussion and steer the conversation in the right direction to ensure everyone will share their thoughts.

How long is a focus group session?

Focus group sessions typically take one or two hours. Scheduling less time for the session can negatively impact the outcome since participants will have less time to discuss the topics properly. However, it is also important to avoid scheduling too much time per session (three or four hours) because it will be hard to keep participants engaged in the discussion.

What is the most common issue in focus groups?

One of the most common issues with focus groups is when one of the participants is more dominating than the others during the discussion. As a result, her or his opinion can influence the group discussion, which often leads to a phenomenon known as groupthink (when participants are swayed by the opinions of others in a group).

What is focus group methodology?

Focus group methodology implies that the most valuable feedback comes from people who represent your target audience. But when it comes to selecting participants for focus groups, you need to follow a few simple rules to get the most out of this technique: Set clear criteria for participants.

What is honor open discussion?

Honor open discussions. Each person in the group should be encouraged to participate in the discussion. It’s worth mentioning at the beginning of the session that when it comes to personal opinions about design, there are no right or wrong questions or answers.

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How It Works

  • A focus group usually consists of 5-12 individuals who all possess certain characteristics pertaining to the topic of the group. A moderator or interviewer facilitates the discussion and creates an environment that promotes the communication of different perceptions and points of view. They usually last for about one to two hours, during which group members are usually ask…
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Types of Focus Groups

  • 1. Two-Way
    One group watches another group answer the questions posed by the moderator. By listening to what the other group thinks and says, the group that listens is able to facilitate more discussion and potentially draw different conclusions.
  • 2. Dual-Moderator
    Two moderators are present – one which ensures the group session progresses smoothly and one that makes sure that the topics in question are all covered. Dual-moderator focus groups typically result in a more productive session.
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Advantages of A Focus Group

  1. Focus groups are a cheaper means of obtaining information, as compared to individual interviews.
  2. Participants are able to listen to the responses of other participants and “feed off each other.”
  3. The groups generally result in more data being gathered, as participants are given the opportunity to rebut each other.
  1. Focus groups are a cheaper means of obtaining information, as compared to individual interviews.
  2. Participants are able to listen to the responses of other participants and “feed off each other.”
  3. The groups generally result in more data being gathered, as participants are given the opportunity to rebut each other.
  4. Compared to a quantitative survey, these groups are able to gather more information about perceptions, attitudes, and experiences.

Disadvantages of A Focus Group

  1. Group dynamics, such as groupthink, may inhibit discussion.
  2. The group may be difficult to manage and control, due to the number of participants.
  3. Shy participants or introverts may feel overpowered and intimidated by assertive participants. This can introduce bias and affect the end result.
  4. Analysis of data may be time-consuming and challenging.
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More Resources

  • CFI’s mission is to help anyone in the world become a great financial analyst through the global Financial Modeling & Valuation Analyst (FMVA)™certification program. To continue learning and advancing your career, the following CFI resources will be helpful: 1. 5 P’s of Marketing 2. AIDA Model in Marketing 3. Network Effect 4. Market Positioning
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