Focus GroupFocus GroupFocus GroupFocus Group

תמי לוי נחוםתמי לוי נחום

PROFILES - CPD 10-12 July 2011PROFILES - CPD 10-12 July 2011

המורה כלומד המורה כמורה

התמקצעות מוריםהתמקצעות מורים

המורה הרפלקטיבי

המורה כמנהיג

Focus Group

Has been used as a marketing decision-support tool

For decades… Focus Group

It started to be used in medicine and in education…

later…

Focus Group in Ed

What is it?

Example

Why Focus Group in CPD Programme?

Focus GroupWhat is it?

A unique methodology tool A type of group interview

Krueger, 1988; Morgan, 1993; Krueger and Casey, 2000

Interviewing

A scale a set of individual interviews a focus group (a social event)

Depends on the degree of

dynamics between the participants

Interviewer / moderator

Individual interviewsIndividual interviews

Groupinterviews

Groupinterviews

• closed • semi-structured • in-depth

• closed • semi-structured • in-depth

Focus group involves an

organized discussion

with a selected group of individuals to

gain information about their views and

experiences as well as insights into

experts’ shared understanding of the

topic.

Focus GroupHow does it differ from…

Any academic discussion in a…

faculty members’ meeting - focused on a selected issue?

The participants in a focus groupare not the executives (but more like costumers)

Focus GroupHow does it differ from…

Any “small talk” in your living room?

Focus Group is…

• a planned session / designed discussion

• it is a semi-structured debate with a goal!

• it is documented for future analyzing

Focus GroupMain components

4-10 participants a minimum of 2 hours session allowing pluralism of “opinions” moderator (instead of an interviewer)

Focus GroupA good moderator . . .

Shows flexibility Shows sensitivity Has a sense of humor Links ideas together Encourages participation from everyone

The moderator has to guide, to supportHe allows people lots of opportunity to comment, to explain, to share experiences and attitudes

as opposed to the structured and directive interview that is lead by the interviewer

Example

A continuing focus group with experts in chemistry Teaching.

The aim: Changing the curriculum! The participants: 10 experts in chemistry teaching

The experts were not the executives!

They were chemistry lead-teachers, curriculum developers, researchers in science teaching. Key-issues were raised and discussed

Levy Nahum et al (2007).

…example

6 sessions, 4-hours each protocols from one-on-one interviews with senior chemists were discussed with these experts teachers

Based on the participants’ opinions and insights a new approach was developed

These teachers are “our costumers” – we listen and learn from their feedback

Levy Nahum et al (2008).

Focus Group in

CPD programme

Why? How? When?To implement FG

Focus Group in PROFILES CPD programme

Why?

Because the teachers are

our programme “consumers”

A “bottom-up” strategy A forum for assessment / change A feedback from teachers’ experience An effective opportunity for reflection

Focus Group in PROFILES CPD programme

How? forming a community of practice formulating relevant issues for discussions Moderator

Focus on what? PARSEL units (IBSE, Relevancy, DM) Assessment aspects… More…..

Focus Group in PROFILES CPD programme

When?

…the participants are “ready” along the CPD programme depends on teachers needs

Thank you!

Interviewing

a set of individual interviews

advantages

disadvantages

Individual interviewsIndividual interviews

Groupinterviews

Groupinterviews

• advantages• advantages

Focus GroupCharacterization

Insights not rules Social not individual Flexible not standardized

Focus GroupA good moderator tries not to . . . Order the course of discussion Lose control over the conversation Judge comments or be an “expert” Inform or educate during the group Lead a “question and answer” session