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

1. Youth led focus groups - bringing young people in evaluation into FOCUS Angela Da Re CARS Consultant Community Prevention Initiative Workshop Youth In Focus: A Step-By Step Guide to Conducting Youth-Led Focus Groups

2. Welcome! • Who are You? • Who am I? • Why are we here?

3. Clumps and clumps with a twist • ……….A game

4. Housekeeping • Agenda • Group Agreements • Parking Lot • Expectations • Restrooms • Breaks

5. THE SCIENCE>>>>

6. 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?

7. Qualitative Quantitative Two Categories of Research

8. 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

9. Quantitative Defined • Quantitative research -involves analysis of numerical data, is more measurable. Includes: • Counting • Checklists • Surveys • Pre-post tests • Analysis of existing statistics

10. Multi-method Evaluation • Multiple perspectives • Balance • Utility • Credibility • Methodological rigor Benefits

11. Multi-method evaluation • Expertise needs • Cost • Complexity Limitations

12. Who can do Research? • YOU CAN DO RESEARCH!!!!!!!

13. 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. 3 1 2 4 6 5

14. THE ART>>>>

15. Focus Groups • Provides insights • Reveals consensus and diversity • Richness of information • Defining of reasons • Instructive Advantages

16. Focus Groups • Representation • Information overload • Subjective • Opinion dominance Limitations

17. Focus Groups – Why we use them • Hearing from those without a voice • Gaining in-depth information • Community needs assessment • Program refinement • Evaluation

18. Step 1 – How to Use Results Intended use of results guides the delivery and content. What you want determines what you’ll need

19. 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?

20. Step 3 – Develop Plan • Which groups will be interviewed • How many of each group • Develop recruitment plan

21. Finding Participants – Part 1 • Gaining access to your target audience

22. Finding Participants – Part 2 • Invitation • Convenience • Schedules • Incentives

23. Finding Participants – Part 3 Making sure they show up • Reminders

24. 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

25. Develop questions continued • Follow-up questions for depth • Probing question, examples • “Why” , why to avoid. Get them thinking

26. 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?

27. 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?

28. 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

29. 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 toAct like a good listener tilt your face toward the speaker look at the other person use receptive language “I see, uh huh” concentrate on what the speaker is saying Activity - Vacation Chat

30. Youth as Facilitators Advantages • Youth as change agents • Peers provide a level of comfort • Can speak the youth language • Can translate youth culture • Others???

31. 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….

32. 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

33. Running the Group – Maintain neutrality • Behave with interest – but not with favoritism • Avoid affirming (positive) statements • Avoid negative body language or facial responses

34. 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

35. 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.

36. 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

37. 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 that will occur and what they can expect next • Thank the group for coming!

38. 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

39. After the Focus Group – Plan & Transcribe the Data • Have a clear plan • Plan for lots o’ time • Transcript rules • Do not delay, memories fade

40. Examine the Data • Data analysis • Use a team approach

41. Results - Disseminate • Identify repeating ideas and themes • Sharing results

42. Disseminate Resultscontinued • Many opportunities: reports, news, media, web… • Use of quotes

43. Results – Use Them! • Use the results- behavior change, institutional change, social norms, policy change • Case Study - alcopops

44. The End…. • Questions • Evaluation • Thank You

45. 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/westcapt • Angela Da Re – da_re@juno.com