A focus group is a guided discussion led by a trained moderator, usually with 6 to 12 participants and lasting up to, but no longer than two hours. There are no right or wrong answers, and typically no preparation is required. As a participant, your role is simply to share your honest perspective and to be respectful of the other participants in the group. The goal of a focus group is not to reach a consensus of opinion, but rather to allow everyone the opportunity to share and discuss their unique point of view.
We contact potential participants in a variety of ways, including by email, text, and phone. Before you are selected, you may be asked to complete a brief interest survey that collects basic information about you and includes a few questions related to the focus group topic. This helps us bring together a good mix of participants with different perspectives.
Many of our in-person focus groups are held on the Penn State Harrisburg campus in Middletown, Pennsylvania. We also hold in-person focus groups at other locations throughout the commonwealth, as well as virtual focus groups that are conducted on platforms such as Zoom. The video above was recorded at our Penn State Harrisburg focus group facility. Refer to your recruitment materials to confirm the location of the focus group you have been selected for.
When you arrive for an in-person focus group, you will be welcomed by members of the research team. You will be asked to review information about the study and may be asked to complete a short participant form. Food or light refreshments may be available, depending on the session.
We encourage you to arrive 10 to 15 minutes prior to the start of the group. To respect everyone’s time, focus group sessions begin promptly, and late arrivals cannot be accommodated. Attendance is limited to confirmed participants only. Children and additional guests are not permitted.
We are committed to providing an accessible and inclusive experience for everyone. Please let us know if you have any questions, concerns, or individual needs to participate in one of our focus groups.
At the end of the focus group, we’ll conclude the discussion and thank you for your time. Most focus groups offer compensation to participants. Refer to your recruitment materials for specific details.
If you have any questions about a specific focus group or project, contact the study team using the contact details provided in your recruitment information. For general questions, contact us at focusgroups@psu.edu or leave us a message on our toll-free voicemail at 1-888-988-2572.