Focus Group Interviews: Adding Perspective Through Qualitative Research

This course provides essential techniques to effectively gather valuable insights through focus group interviews.

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About this Course

The Focus Group Interviews course offers learners comprehensive techniques and analytical strategies to effectively conduct interviews for qualitative research. Taught with a focus on equity, the course emphasizes the importance of engaging participants, recognizing cultural contexts, and ensuring inclusivity throughout the entire research process.

Language Availability: English

Suggested Audiences: Faculty, Higher Education Administrators, Postdocs, Students

Organizational Subscription Price: $675 per year/per site for government and non-profit organizations; $750 per year/per site for for-profit organizations
Independent Learner Price: $99 per person

Demo Instructions


Course Content

Focus Groups Overview and Introduction

This module starts with an overview of focus groups as a qualitative research method and community perspectives in research.

Note: This module may contain content that is subject to interpretation under recent U.S. Executive Orders. Institutions should review the material in the context of their policies and regulatory obligations.

Recommended Use: Required
ID (Language): 21558 (English)
Author(s): Michael Petillo, MS - CES Partnership, LLC; Michele Andrasik, PhD, EdM - Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center; HIV Vaccine Trials Network; Blanca Guillen-Woods, MA - Strategic Learning Partners (SLP4i); April Petillo, PhD - Northern Arizona University, Department of Sociology; CES Partnership, LLC

Placing People’s Perspective into Research

People are at the center of qualitative inquiry. Focus groups as a method of data collection requires understanding how people show up, what is necessary to ensure an atmosphere conducive to data collection, and building the requisite skills to facilitate discussion and generate data.

Note: This module may contain content that is subject to interpretation under recent U.S. Executive Orders. Institutions should review the material in the context of their policies and regulatory obligations.

Recommended Use: Required
ID (Language): 21559 (English)
Author(s): Michele Andrasik, PhD, EdM - Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center; HIV Vaccine Trials Network; Blanca Guillen-Woods, MA - Strategic Learning Partners (SLP4i); April Petillo, PhD - Northern Arizona University, Department of Sociology; CES Partnership, LLC; Michael Petillo, MS - CES Partnership, LLC

Respectful Community Research Engagement

This module explores the value of community perspectives; the importance of being trauma-informed to avoid retraumatizing participants; and ethical considerations for focus group research with diverse, vulnerable, and marginalized communities.

Note: This module may contain content that is subject to interpretation under recent U.S. Executive Orders. Institutions should review the material in the context of their policies and regulatory obligations.

Recommended Use: Required
ID (Language): 21560 (English)
Author(s): Michele Andrasik, PhD, EdM - Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center; HIV Vaccine Trials Network; April Petillo, PhD - Northern Arizona University, Department of Sociology; CES Partnership, LLC; Blanca Guillen-Woods, MA - Strategic Learning Partners (SLP4i); Michael Petillo, MS - CES Partnership, LLC

Focus Group Research Relationships: Sampling

This module addresses the sampling concerns that inform and shape focus group development, which well-equipped researchers must consider before they delve into focus group data collection.

Recommended Use: Required
ID (Language): 21561 (English)
Author(s): April Petillo, PhD - Northern Arizona University, Department of Sociology; CES Partnership, LLC; Michele Andrasik, PhD, EdM - Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center; HIV Vaccine Trials Network; Blanca Guillen-Woods, MA - Strategic Learning Partners (SLP4i); Michael Petillo, MS - CES Partnership, LLC

Focus Group Planning, Data, and Facilitation

This module explores how to plan for and conduct focus groups, including qualitative data collection and group facilitation.

Recommended Use: Required
ID (Language): 21562 (English)
Author(s): Michael Petillo, MS - CES Partnership, LLC; Michele Andrasik, PhD, EdM - Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center; HIV Vaccine Trials Network; Blanca Guillen-Woods, MA - Strategic Learning Partners (SLP4i); April Petillo, PhD - Northern Arizona University, Department of Sociology; CES Partnership, LLC

Organizing and Analyzing Focus Group Data

This module provides strategies for organizing and analyzing qualitative data (such as descriptive, non-numeric information) collected through focus groups, interviews, and supplemental data.

Recommended Use: Required
ID (Language): 21563 (English)
Author(s): Blanca Guillen-Woods, MA - Strategic Learning Partners (SLP4i); Michele Andrasik, PhD, EdM - Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center; HIV Vaccine Trials Network; April Petillo, PhD - Northern Arizona University, Department of Sociology; CES Partnership, LLC; Michael Petillo, MS - CES Partnership, LLC

Sharing Focus Group Findings

This module continues the focus on relationship building with a discussion on what focus group researchers must consider when they present and share data and findings and why. It also focuses on managing collected and analyzed focus group data and strategies to disseminate research findings.

Recommended Use: Required
ID (Language): 21564 (English)
Author(s): Blanca Guillen-Woods, MA - Strategic Learning Partners (SLP4i); Michele Andrasik, PhD, EdM - Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center; HIV Vaccine Trials Network; April Petillo, PhD - Northern Arizona University, Department of Sociology; CES Partnership, LLC; Michael Petillo, MS - CES Partnership, LLC

Managing Power Dynamics and Positionality

This module addresses concerns about the appearance of power and its impact on focus group dynamics.

Recommended Use: Required
ID (Language): 21565 (English)
Author(s): April Petillo, PhD - Northern Arizona University, Department of Sociology; CES Partnership, LLC; Michele Andrasik, PhD, EdM - Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center; HIV Vaccine Trials Network; Blanca Guillen-Woods, MA - Strategic Learning Partners (SLP4i); Michael Petillo, MS - CES Partnership, LLC


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