Conducting a Focus Group Discussion Seminar for Humanitarian Assess Need.

Greetings to all my fellow steemians. Today I will be sharing with you some aspect of Humanitarian works in relation to emergency response. For humanitarian activity to be carried within a given society first they have to do what we call Focus Group Discussion(FGD). This helps them to have vital information base on their topic on what the people needs. So I will be happy after a brief seminar today to share with you more about FGD.

a round table sharing of ideas about a given topic

A focus group discussion entails bringing people from similar experiences in one place to talk about smart topics that can help. This is like a research in which questions are asked in respect of attitudes, beliefs and opinion. In focus group discussion participants have the right to freedom of speech to other group member. This usually include small group of mostly 8 to 10 persons to be interviewed and it’s led by a moderator who focuses on diverse questions of interest.
The discussion focus is always carefully planned to create a non-factor environment, in a way participants can feel free to express themselves openly and give good opinions. Focus groups offer a depth, expression and variety of ideas to be discussed that will not be all time through surveys.

Equally, FGDs are always structured, directed and so expressive. Their main focus is t have access to information within a shorter possible time. With such one can say they are good medium through which one can have first hand information about a a community need. To do FGD’s, you plan before time and work with an outline so that you cover the most important topics.

Main Features of FGD

• it’s an organized chatting forum with selected group of persons to benefit from certain information about a certain topic of interest.
• Focus on having varied ideas about a unique topic.
• Facilitate having deep information on people’s understanding on daily life and how people’s lives are affected by other groups.

Impacts of Using FGDs

There are a good number of advantages on focus group discussion;

• Freedom of speech and expression among the respondents which gives new ideas useful for decision-making.
• The moderator have the power to change ways that can help promote the discussion in the group discussion.

Some disadvantages of using focus group discussion include;

• The moderator sometimes control the discussion base on he or her experience. And inexperienced moderators may geeked challenge by when being dominated.
• Some participants may be unwilling to share some important ideas.
• The FGD size May limit Information shared because the research may not be enough to make plans of the situation.
• Some FGD are artificially set-up thus making some respondents to behave and act unnaturally.

It might be so difficult to do findings on the actual
Skills Required to Conduct FGDs
Focus group discussion. Some research always requires skills, competencies and expertise such as:

• The researcher have to be active and void of being bias.
• A moderator have to make sure the subject, problem, or topic to be investigated are well understood.
• The language use most be simple and direct that is the moderator needs no interpreter even if the third person has great skills.

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