Participation criteria Type of participants; effective inclusion; learning; degree of participation
Components to evaluate
participation Inclusiveness; education; information Participation dimension Participant selection methods
PARTICIPATORY METHODS AND TECHNIQUES
Description and objectives
The focus group is a group dynamic in which a group of (between four and 12) people discuss a policy or social intervention that affects them. The main objective of a focus group is to obtain information from the participants about their opinions, perceptions, attitudes, experiences and even their expectations regarding the subject matter discussed.
It can be defined as a combination between a focus interview and a discussion group, and as a resource it is able to build a picture quickly from information gathered.
Focus groups are used very frequently in institutional action for the initial exploration of problems, in order to generate creative ideas, as well as to analyse the impact of public decisions.
Method
The preparatory stage for a focus group is determined by the objective pursued by the organizers. There are two basic options. If the aim is to expand on and develop the information available about the subject matter at hand, internally homogeneous groups should be designed. Homogeneity can respond to sociodemographic criteria (age, sex, income, and so on) or position within the structure of the area studied (professionals, public representatives, organizations, civil society, and so on). However, if the aim is to compare and contrast differing opinions and ideas, it is advisable to design groups capable of presenting internal heterogeneity, either on the basis of the sociodemographic status of the subjects or of position in the structure of the conceptual sphere being tackled by the group dynamic.
Within the participatory logic, the choice of a subject or purpose of the focus groups should be decided collectively among representatives of the stakeholders involved in the problem. This search for consensus at the start will help to reveal the different interests of the stakeholders present in the diagnosis of the reality being analysed. Furthermore, it will help to duly document the scripts used by moderators in focus group sessions.
When selecting the group participants, as well as taking account of the aforementioned internal composition criteria, a set of requirements should be met in order to maximize the construction of information in the group dynamic: the moderator should not know the participants previously; the participants should not know one another; and the venue chosen to hold the focus group sessions should be a space that is familiar to the participants, where they feel comfortable and safe.
Focus groups usually last between one and two hours, but on occasion it could be necessary to divide them into several sessions, depending on the scope of the debate.
At the start, the moderator should ensure that the participants introduce themselves.
The discussion begins with broad, simple questions, on which a consensus is relatively easy to reach, and from there moves into more specific, detailed questions. During the debate, the moderator may use materials (boards, flip charts, specific project examples, and so on) to illustrate the ideas expressed, although the participants themselves should, where possible, be responsible for taking notes. The debate concludes by summarizing the contributions and ascertaining whether the summary is correct, or if any content has been omitted.
Contributions are collected by the focus group leaders and sorted into categories by means of a subject-specific transversal analysis. With the resulting documentation, participants can be called back, but this time into a joint session, to compare the information, initiate a broader discussion, and identify the main driving principles;
that is, the contributions on which there is sufficient consensus to generate social action (Fig. 3.5). Case study 3.5 describes how focus groups were used to help prevent addiction in Sinti and Roma communities across Europe.
Fig. 3.5 Methodological diagram for the focus group
Further reading on the tool method
Kansas University Work Group for Community Health and Development. Community tool box. Chapter 3. Assessing community needs and resources. Section 20.
Implementing PhotoVoice in your community [website]. Lawrence (KS): University of Kansas; 2014 (http://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of-contents/assessment/assessing-community-needs-and-resources/photovoice/main, accessed 5 December 2014).
Participatory choice of the issues tackled
Selection of participants and training of moderators
Discussion groups held
Group analysis and identification of driving principles
Case study 3.5 Project SRAP: Addiction Prevention within Roma and Sinti communities
Background
This project was launched in 2010, led by the city of Bologna together with 11 organizations (town councils, NGOs and universities) from various countries in Europe.
An initial diagnosis carried out by the city of Bologna explained the deficient living conditions of young Roma people, the difficulties they encounter in accessing health care services and their erroneous perception of health and drugs. These elements led to poor health and increased the vulnerability of this segment of the population. The SRAP project was therefore launched, funded by the European Union (EU). The beneficiaries of the project are young Roma and Sinti aged 15 to 24 years, along with social services and health care services working in the area of drug addiction prevention and, more generally, municipalities which have a significant population of young Roma and Sinti (1).
Objectives
The main objectives of the project were to:
» reduce the damage caused by the use and/or abuse of drugs and prevent their consumption among young European Roma and Sinti;
» facilitate access to social and health care services in these areas for young Roma and Sinti;
» design a participatory intervention model relating to this problem, valid in all contexts and European territories.
Development of the process
With a view to increasing knowledge about the problem of drug addiction among young Roma, a series of focus groups were carried out involving the Roma population and professionals specializing in the prevention of drug dependency. To triangulate the information produced in the focus groups, young Roma people were also surveyed and field trips were organized.
PARTICIPATORY METHODS AND TECHNIQUES