Focus Group Toolkit
In your continuing efforts to increase student success at your college, your CCSSE and SENSE data provide a great deal of information to help you identify strengths and areas in need of improvement. Generally, the data will point you to specific areas where you'll want to focus your attention. Before you begin to consider improvement strategies, it will be important to learn more about what students are reporting in their survey responses. The Center encourages colleges to hold focus groups to gather this information. The survey responses tell you the "what" about your students' experiences; in focus groups you will learn the "why." In addition to gathering specific detail about the experiences students are having, these structured discussions will also help you uncover possible strategies to consider for improvement.
Provided below are materials for organizing focus groups and sample focus group discussion guides for entering students, returning students, faculty, and student services staff. In addition, sample quantitative response sheets are provided to gather basic demographic information as well as information to complement the findings from the discussion.
For additional information about how to plan and conduct focus groups, please contact the Initiative on Student Success.
Planning Focus Groups
- Criteria for Selecting a Moderator and Note-taker
- Campus Coordinator Responsibilities
- Campus Coordinator Checklist
- Room Set-Up
- Videotaping Guidelines
Recruiting Focus Group Participants
- Criteria for Selecting Participants
- Invitation E-mail for Entering Students
- Invitation E-mail for Returning Students
- Invitation E-mail for Adjunct Faculty
- Invitation E-mail for Full-time Faculty
- Invitation E-mail for Staff
Discussion Tools
- Moderator DOs and DON'Ts
- Moderator Guide for Entering Students
- Moderator's Guide for Returning Students
- Moderator's Guide for Faculty
- Moderator's Guide for Staff
Forms
Consent Forms
- Consent Form for Entering Students
- Consent Form for Returning Students
- Consent Form for Faculty
- Consent Form for Staff
Profile Sheets
Response Sheets
Analyzing and Reporting on the Discussion
Focus Groups in Action
What Do Students Really Think?: See how Arleen Arnsparger helps El Paso Community College in El Paso, Texas, learn to use focus groups to listen to their students.