Take a look inside the course

Course Curriculum

    1. Getting Ready to Rock!

    2. Exclusive Instructor-led Live Events (Zoom)

    1. Module 1 Lesson Plan

    2. Pre-Assignment: How Do Focus Groups Work?

    3. Introduction to Focus Groups [Video Lesson]

    4. Introduction to Focus Groups [Slide Viewer]

    5. Introduction to Focus Groups [Slide File Download]

    6. Common Focus Group Jargon [Downloadable Job Aid]

    7. Checkpoint A: Screener Critique

    8. Checkpoint B: Number of Groups

    1. Module 2 Lesson Plan

    2. Preparing for Focus Groups [Video Lesson]

    3. Preparing for Focus Groups [Slide Viewer]

    4. Preparing for Focus Groups [Slide File Download]

    5. Selecting Facilities and Online Platform Checklist [Downloadable Job Aid]

    6. Managing Facilities Best Practices [Downloadable Job Aid]

    7. Risk Mitigation for OLFGs [Downloadable Job Aid]

    8. It's a Discussion, Not a Test [Downloadable Job Aid]

    9. Rocking Focus Group Logistics [Downloadable Job Aid]

    10. Discussion Guide Critique [USE FOR CHECKPOINT C]

    11. Checkpoint C: Discussion Guide Critique

    1. Module 3 Lesson Plan

    2. Focus Groups in Practice M3A [Video Lesson]

    3. Focus Groups in Practice M3B [Video Lesson]

    4. Focus Groups in Practice [Slide Viewer]

    5. Focus Groups in Practice [Slide File Download]

    6. Note-taking for Qualitative Research [Downloadable Job Aid]

    7. Checkpoint D: Concept Review

    1. Module 4 Lesson Plan

    2. Ending Strong with Quality Data [Video Lesson]

    3. Ending Strong with Quality Data [Slide Viewer]

    4. Ending Strong with Quality Data [Slide File Download]

    5. Checkpoint E: Midpoint Review

    1. Recommended Reading & Viewing

    2. Bonus Examples and Tools

    3. Coding Qualitative Data [Downloadable Job Aid]

About this course

  • 39 lessons
  • 3 hours of video content

Course Overview

Learn how to manage a focus group project, even if you have never done so before. In this market research training course, Instructor Kathryn Korostoff guides students through planning and managing a focus group project step-by-step. In Module 1, students learn about specifying objectives and documenting a plan (which sets you up for an efficient screener and discussion guide development process). In Module 2, we cover facility selection, online focus group platforms, screening, and recruitment process management. Module 3 prepares students for working with a moderator, discussion guide basics, and coordinating with facilities. Finally, in Module 4, students explore project conclusion best practices and reporting options.

This class only covers reporting options briefly. For a more in-depth class on reporting, see Writing Qualitative Research Reports.

Upon course completion, you will be able to: 

  • Manage the focus group project from start to finish
  • Choose and manage focus group facilities or platforms
  • Maximize moderator effectiveness
  • Troubleshoot common problems to optimize qualitative research data quality

As a student, you get lots of helpful videos, readings, and reference material.

Watch the preview below.


Meet Your Instructor

Alaine Lerner

Owner & Principal of A.J.Lerner Market Research

Alaine Lerner, Owner and Principal of A.J.Lerner Market Research, has over 30 years of market research experience as an independent consultant and research manager. She has spent that time designing and implementing research studies to support new product development, customer satisfaction, product or service positioning/repositioning and new business development. Alaine utilizes qualitative, secondary, observational and quantitative research methods - combined with practical experience - to identify insights and inspire creative, intuitive and actionable strategies. Over the years, Alaine has worked with a wide range of industries and has extensive project experience in education, healthy and organic foods, non-profits, products and services, telecom and medical/health care. Alaine has a B.A. in Economics from the University of Michigan and an M.B.A. in Marketing from the University of Denver, where she serves on their executive advisory board and is a guest speaker in marketing classes.

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