Focus Group Guide Generator
A comprehensive focus group discussion guide builder designed for qualitative researchers and moderators. Create professional moderator guides with structured discussion topics, 5 prompt types (opening, main, probing, activity, closing), group activities with materials and instructions, and time management. Customize welcome scripts, ground rules, icebreakers, and closing scripts. Perfect for qualitative research, market research, community engagement, stakeholder consultations, and any group-based data collection requiring systematic facilitation.
Key Features
- 5 discussion prompt types with specific purposes
- Opening prompts to start discussions
- Main questions for core topics
- Probing prompts to dig deeper
- Activity prompts for group exercises
- Closing prompts to wrap up topics
- Organize prompts into thematic topics
- Topic descriptions and key objectives
- Reorder topics with up/down controls
- Time tracking per prompt and activity
- Total session duration calculator
- Customizable welcome and introduction script
- Ground rules management
- Add/remove/edit ground rules
- Customizable icebreaker activity
- Customizable closing script
- Group activities with full details
- Activity name and description
- Activity purpose and objectives
- Materials list for each activity
- Step-by-step activity instructions
- Activity time estimates
- Moderator notes for facilitation cues
- Group size specifications (min/max)
- Target participant details
- Research questions tracking
- Preview mode with professional formatting
- Print-friendly moderator guide layout
- Export to text format for Word/printing
- Export to JSON for backup
- Import from JSON
- Browser localStorage persistence
- Duplicate prompts for efficiency
- Prompt type statistics dashboard
- Activity statistics tracking
- Session planning support
- No login required
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ideal size for a research focus group?
Optimal size is 6-10 participants. Smaller groups (4-5) work for sensitive topics or expert participants; larger groups (10-12) suit general topics with broader perspectives. Groups under 4 lack diversity of views; groups over 12 become difficult to manage, with some participants dominating while others remain silent. Plan for 20-30% no-shows by recruiting 8-12 for a target of 6-8 participants.
How long should a focus group discussion last?
Plan for 90-120 minutes for most research focus groups. Shorter sessions (60-75 minutes) work for single-topic discussions or children/elderly participants. Longer sessions (2-3 hours) suit complex topics with multiple activities. Include: 10-15 minutes for welcome/icebreaker, 60-90 minutes for main discussion, 10-15 minutes for wrap-up. This tool helps allocate time across discussion topics and activities.
What is the difference between focus groups and group interviews?
Focus groups emphasize participant interaction and group dynamics - participants respond to each other, build on ideas, and co-construct meaning. Group interviews involve sequential individual responses to moderator questions with limited interaction. Focus groups generate richer data through discussion but require skilled moderation. Use focus groups when exploring shared experiences, norms, or collective meaning-making. This tool creates structured focus group guides fostering productive group discussion.