1 day
Duration
£295+VAT
Public · per delegate
POA
In-house
30 CPD
Credits
Fig. 01 · Facilitating group insight
01Overview
A well-run focus group hears everyone, not just the confident.
Focus groups are a direct way to understand the why behind opinions, but they are easy to run badly. Poor recruitment, leading questions or a dominant participant can turn rich insight into misleading noise.
This course covers the full craft: designing a discussion guide, recruiting the right mix, facilitating so quieter voices are heard, and analysing what emerges into credible qualitative findings.
02Learning outcomes
What you'll take away
Delegates leave able to run focus groups that yield trustworthy insight.
01Decide when a focus group is the right method
02Design an effective discussion guide
03Recruit a balanced, relevant group
04Facilitate so every voice is heard
05Manage dominant or reluctant participants
06Analyse discussion into credible findings
03The day
Four sessions
A full day on the craft of focus groups.
09:30When and whyChoosing focus groups appropriately.
11:00Design & recruitmentGuides and getting the right mix.
13:30FacilitationDrawing out every participant.
15:00AnalysisTurning discussion into insight.
04Who it's for
For qualitative researchers.
For anyone who runs or commissions focus groups for engagement.
Research & insight officers
Consultation officers
Public health teams
Voluntary-sector partners
Anyone running group discussions
06Before you book
Common questions
Anything not covered here, ask us. We answer the same day.
01How many CPD points do I earn?Thirty tCI CPD points. Every virtual and face-to-face course carries 30, and points are logged against your record when you attend. Members can download a CPD statement from the membership portal at any time, and this course counts towards the taught element of a tCI qualification.
02Is it virtual or face-to-face?Open places run as a live virtual workshop, delivered in real time by a tCI trainer, never a recording. Groups stay small enough that everyone can speak, and you work in breakouts as well as listening. The same course runs face-to-face at your own offices as an in-house session.
03How long is the course?One full day, 09:30 to 16:30, in four sessions with breaks between each, opening with ‘When and why’ and closing with ‘Analysis’. The day is built around practical exercises rather than presentation, so you leave having worked on focus groups rather than only having heard about it.
04Can you run this in-house for our team?Yes, and it is the usual choice for teams of six or more. In-house delivery works from your sector and the consultations you have in front of you, so the focus groups exercises use your own material. We can run it in person or virtually, and split it across two half-days where a full day is hard to protect. Ask us about bespoke for a quote.
05Do I need prior experience or other courses first?No prior course is required. It is pitched at intermediate level, so it suits people who have run or commissioned engagement already. If you want the groundwork first, Facilitation skills is a good precursor.
06Who delivers the course?A tCI trainer who specialises in qualitative research and works in it, not only teaches it. The named trainer for each date is shown on the course calendar and confirmed in your joining instructions the week before. You can put live problems to them on the day and expect a straight answer.
Bring this workshop in-house for your whole team
The same course, reworked around the consultations your team is running.