FOCUS GROUPS FROM START TO FINISH
A two-day short course sponsored by the Joint Program in Survey Methodology 
 

NOVEMBER 19-20, 2009
Presented at the Washington Marriott at Metro Center

DAVID L. MORGAN
Portland State University

COURSE OBJECTIVES
Focus groups are a qualitative method that has found wide acceptance as an efficient and helpful way to understand people's attitudes, beliefs, and experiences. Among those who use focus groups are: survey researchers who wish to design well-worded questionnaires; program intervention teams to who want to understand the people they serve and influence their behavior; managers from government agencies and private businesses who want to discover how their "customers" evaluate their services, as well as how to improve their services and raise customer satisfaction; market researchers who are interested in understanding consumer preferences; and political researchers who want to explore voters' responses to candidates and their messages.

This seminar will introduce participants to focus group methodology and how it can be applied to serve a variety of purposes. Participants will learn: who to choose as participants and how to recruit them; how to design an appropriate set of questions for a group interview; the basic skills involved in moderating focus group discussions; and how to analyze and report on the data from focus groups. In addition, the course will cover the issues involved in both contract with professional focus group providers and conducting your own focus groups

The instructor will give mini-lectures, conduct example focus groups, and lead exercises. The overall goal is to provide practical information.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND
This short course is designed for people who use or who might like to use focus groups as well as people who evaluate reports based on focus group findings.  Those who might benefit from this course include: project managers who are planning new initiatives or programs; survey researchers who wish to use qualitative methods in either the development of their survey tools or the interpretation of their quantitative results; those who are responsible for customer satisfaction programs or cultural diversity efforts; anyone who needs greater insights into the experiences, feelings, and preferences of either the general public or members of their own organization. It is designed to meet the need of individuals in government and not-for-profit organizations, as well as those in industry.

THE INSTRUCTOR
David L. Morgan teaches at Portland State University, where he holds an appointment as a University Professor, along with an adjunct appoint in the Department of Sociology. He received his Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Michigan. Dr. Morgan is internationally recognized for his several books on focus groups, including the recent Focus Group Kit (with Richard Krueger) and the edited collection Successful Focus Groups. In addition to focus groups, he is also interested in research that combines qualitative and quantitative methods, including the use of focus groups in conjunction with both survey research and program evaluation. 

COURSE MATERIALS
Registrants will be provided with a course lecture notebook.

MEALS
JPSM group continental breakfasts, lunches and refreshments are included in the course fee.

DAILY CHECK-IN
Course registrants should check-in with JPSM Onsite each day of the course.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

Thursday: November 19, 2009
Classroom: Salon C-D
Lunch Area: Salon E
   
7:45 - 8:30 Registrant Check-In and Continental Breakfast

8:30 - 9:00

 Introduction and Course Overview
9:00 -10:00 Demonstration Focus Group
10:00 - 10:15 Morning Break
10:15 - 11:00 Deciding to Use Focus Groups
11:00 - 12:00 Question and Answer Session

12:00 - 1:00

 Lunch Break

1:00 - 2:00

 Group Composition and Recruitment

2:00 - 2:45

 Asking Questions in Focus Groups, Part #1
2:45 - 3:00 Afternoon Break

3:00 - 3:45

 Asking Questions in Focus Groups, Part #2
3:45 - 4:30  Exercise: Writing an Interview Guide
4:30  Adjourn
Friday: November 20, 2009
Classroom: Jr Ballroom Salon 1
Lunch Area: Jr Ballroom Salon 2
 
7:45 - 8:30 Registrant Check-In and Continental Breakfast
8:30 - 10:00 Moderating Focus Groups, Part #1
10:00 - 10:15 Morning Break
10:15 - 11:30 Moderating Focus Groups, Part #2
11:30 - 12:00 Question and Answer Session
12:00 - 1:00 Lunch Break
1:00 - 2:45 Analyzing and Reporting Data, Part #1
2:45 - 3:00 Afternoon Break
3:00 - 3:45 Analyzing and Reporting Data, Part #2
3:45 - 4:30 Question and Answer Session
4:30 Adjourn

FEES
The course fee is $600 for JPSM sponsor affiliates, $600 for full-time university students, and $810 for other participants. JPSM Sponsor Affiliate List: http://projects.isr.umich.edu/jpsm/info.cfm#sponsors.

REGISTRATION
Online registration is required. JPSM Short Courses: www.jpsm.org/shortcourses . Confirmation of acceptance will be sent after the registration form has been processed. Registration is not firm until you receive an acceptance email. The email will include directions to the course. The automatic web registration number is not an acceptance letter. The registration deadline is November 5, 2009.

PAYMENT
Payment by credit card is required.  Payment may be done online during registration. Post registration payment may be done online at www.jpsm.org/shortcourses using the registration number or by calling (800) 937-9320. Payment is required by November 5, 2009. 

CANCELLATION
Please notify JPSM as soon as possible if you need to cancel your registration. Cancellation requests should be done online at www.jpsm.org/shortcourses . You will be fully reimbursed if you cancel by November 5, 2009. Cancellation November 6-11, 2009 will require a $100 administrative fee, the remainder will be reimbursed. Cancellation on or after November 12, 2009 is subject to the full fee amount.

FELLOWSHIP
The Joint Program in Survey Methodology strives to increase the number of survey professionals from groups traditionally under-represented in the field. As part of this effort, a limited number of competitive fellowships are available to African-Americans, Latinos, Hispanic Americans, and Native American Indians for the short course. The registrant must be a US citizen or permanent resident. 

Fellowship applicants should submit:

  1. Online Registration 
  2. A 500-word essay describing their reasons for wanting to attend this short course and how their participation will enhance their chosen career path. The essay should indicate the applicant’s background (i.e. African-American, Latino, Hispanic American, or Native American Indian) and why financial support is needed.
  3. A letter of recommendation written by a person knowledgeable about the applicant’s aptitude and interest in survey methodology.

The online registration form, essay, and letter of recommendation are due by October 22, 2009. JPSM will evaluate the applications and inform the successful applicants by October 29, 2009. The fellowship covers the registration fee, materials to be distributed during the course and the JPSM group continental breakfasts, lunches and breaks. The essay and letter of recommendation may be faxed to (734) 764-8263 or emailed to JPSMShort@isr.umich.edu.

JPSM CITATION PROGRAM
The citation programs are built around the JPSM short courses. The JPSM Citation in Introductory Survey Methodology is designed to provide the working professional and interested students with state-of-the-art knowledge about current principles and practices for conducting complex surveys combined with practical skills of day-to-day utility. The JPSM Citation in Introductory Economic Measurement is designed for professional staff requiring a grounding in the principles and practices of economic measurement. Completion of the citation programs involves taking a semester-length JPSM credit-bearing course and eight JPSM short courses, of which four are specified core courses. For information on the Certificate and Citation Programs visit the website at http://www.jpsm.org or call (301) 314-7911.

WASHINGTON MARRIOTT AT METRO CENTER
775 12th Street NW, Washington, District Of Columbia 20005 USA
Phone:  (202) 737-2200 Fax: (202) 347-5886
Web: http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/wasmc-washington-marriott-at-metro-center/

The hotel is situated near the Metro Center Station, with easy access to Reagan National Airport (4.0 mi N), Washington Dulles Airport (25.0 mi E) and BWI Baltimore Washington Airport (40.0 mi S) as well as the Amtrak station.

DAY-1
Classroom: Salon C-D 
Lunch Area: Salon E

DAY-2
Metro Lines: Jr Ballroom Salon 1
Train Station: Jr Ballroom Salon 2

OVERNIGHT ROOMS
Individuals are responsible for making their own overnight room reservations and for payment.

PARKING
Registrants are responsible for parking fees. Valet parking is available at the hotel for $35 per day. There are numerous parking garages near the hotel. Parking garage rates range from $13 to $20 a day.

TRAVEL RESOURCES
Bus Station: Union Station (2.0 mi E)
Metro Station: Metro Center Station, 607 13th St. NW, Washington, DC (476 ft)
Metro Lines: Red, Blue, Orange
Train Station: Union Station (1.6 mi E)

Amtrak:  www.amtrak.com
MARC Train:  www.mtamaryland.com
Metro Rail & Bus:  www.wmata.com
Parking Locations: washingtondc.bestparking.com
Supper Shuttle: http://www.supershuttle.com/
VRE Train: www.vre.org/

JPSM SHORT COURSE
Questions for this course should be directed to the JPSM Short Course, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, 426 Thompson Street, Room 4050, Ann Arbor, MI 48104-2321, Phone: (800) 937-9320, Fax: (734) 764-8263, Email: jpsmshort@isr.umich.edu.

Short Courses: www.jpsm.org/shortcourses
Sponsor Affiliate List: projects.isr.umich.edu/jpsm/info.cfm#sponsors
JPSM Home Page: www.jpsm.org
Tax Indentification (University of Michigan): 38-6006309
DUNS (University of Michigan): 073133571

                                                                                                                                                                                                

Primary Funding for JPSM is from the Interagency Council on Statistical Policy