This course is an intensive overview of focus group procedures in the public and non-profit environment. Attention will be placed on question development, moderator skills, analysis strategies and planning critical logistical details of focus group interviews, and analyzing results of focus group interviews. The course will examine unique methodological characteristics of focus group interviews, identify emerging trends, and explore areas of appropriate and inappropriate use.

Upon the completion of this course, the participant will be able to:

• Apply the processes and procedures for planning successful focus group studies;
• Develop ability to skillfully moderate focus groups;
• Create workable and useful questions for focus group studies; and
• Implement several alternative strategies for analyzing focus group results.

Whether registering FOR-university-credit or NOT-for-university credit, CEUs are available for Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES):        
The College of Public Health, University of South Florida has been designated as a Multiple Event Provider (#FL0027) of Category I Continuing Education Contact Hours in health education by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc.  This program has been reviewed and approved for up to 32.5, 60-minute contact hours for event number 1128 CHES.

• Introduction to focus group interviewing
• Demonstration of focus group interviewing
• Moderator skills
• Role and expectations of the assistant moderator
• Brief overview of planning, moderating, developing questions and analysis.
• Assignment for Sunday : Develop introduction to a focus group
• Readings for Sunday:
• Chapter 1:  Overview of focus groups
• Chapter 5:  Moderating skills

• Quiz on Chapters 1 and 5
• The critical first few minutes of a focus group interview
• Capturing the information from a focus group
• Giving an oral summary
• Application exercises
• Introducing a focus group interview
• Participating in a focus group interview
• Taking notes during a focus group
• Giving an oral summary of a focus group
• Readings for Monday:
• Chapter 2:  Planning the focus group study
• Chapter 3:  Developing a questioning route
• Chapter 4:  Participants in a focus group

• Quiz on Chapters 2-4 
• Planning the focus group
• Sampling strategies
• Strategies for asking questions
• Problems that emerge during focus groups
• Focus groups with special audiences (youth, communities of color, low income audiences, etc).
• Resources needed for the focus group study
• Assignment for Tuesday:  Developing a questioning route
• Readings for Tuesday:
• Chapter 8: Styles of focus groups research. 
  
• Chapter 9:  Adapting focus groups to audiences and environments.  
  
• Chapter 10:  Modifications of focus groups

• Quiz on Chapters 8-10
• Theoretical basis of involvement
• How to involve volunteers or staff
• Preparing the team
• Learning exercises
• Assignment for Wednesday:  Self-reflection
• Readings for Wednesday:
• Chapters 6:  Analyzing focus group research
• Chapter 7: Reporting.
• Chapter 11: Answering questions about the quality of focus group research

• Quiz on Chapters 6-7, 11
• Systematic analysis
• Analysis with transcripts, tapes, notes, memory
• Reporting results
• Reflection and diagnostic inventory
• Course evaluation

Focus Groups: A Practical Guide for Applied Research, 3rd edition. (2000) by Richard A. Krueger and Mary Anne Casey, Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Byseth, Jean, et al  (2003)  Moderating to the Max.  Ithaca, NY: Paramount Market Publishing.

Krueger, Richard A. (1998). Analyzing and reporting focus group results. (Volume 6). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Krueger, Richard A. (1998). Developing questions for focus groups. (Volume 3) Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Krueger, Richard A. (1998). Moderating focus groups. (Volume 4) Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Krueger, Richard A. and Jean A. King (1998). Involving community members in focus groups. (Volume 5). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Morgan, David L. (1998). The focus group guidebook. (Volume 1) Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

COURSES ARE LIMITED TO 25 PARTICIPANTS.

How to Register:

NOT-for-University Credit:
The cost per course is $1,000. The registration fee for the event covers the cost of food and beverage (breakfast and afternoon break).

Self-parking at the Sheraton Sand Key Resort for the first day of the course is free of charge, but you may purchase a $16 parking permit that is valid for the 4 days of the course that occur at USF. Since parking is extremely limited, it is recommended that you plan to arrive at the course early. In lieu of driving, you may also utilize the shuttles that are available at several of the hotels in the area. Contact information for these hotels is listed further down on this website.

You may pay by credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express) or check (payable to USF HPCC). All payments must be made in U.S. dollars. Purchase orders will only be accepted if prior permission is received. Please e-mail Stephanie Makar at smakar@health.usf.edu if you would like to pay with a purchase order.

FOR-University Credit:

All students registering FOR-university-credit are liable for the applicable USF tuition and fees.

Degree-Seeking Students

1. Students in a graduate degree-seeking program at USF must complete a Degree-Seeking Registration Worksheet, which is available at http://health.usf.edu/publichealth/academicaffairs/registration/degreeseeking.html
2. College of Public Health degree-seeking students must have their advisor’s approval on the worksheet.
3. Worksheets can be faxed to 813-974-8121 or hand-delivered to COPH 1133.
4. Once you receive your electronic permit, you may register on OASIS.

Non-Degree-Seeking Students

1. Students who have never enrolled at USF or have not taken USF classes in the past 12 months must complete the FACTS Online Non-Degree Enrollment Application. This application is available at the Registrar's Website. A $30 non-refundable application fee will be assessed.
2. Once the application detailed above is completed, students much complete a College of Public Health Non-Degree-Seeking Registration Worksheet, which is available at http://health.usf.edu/publichealth/academicaffairs/registration/nondegreeseeking.html
3. Worksheets can be faxed to 813-974-8121 or hand-delivered to COPH 1133.
4. Once you receive your electronic permit, you may register on OASIS.
5. Non-degree-seeking student registration begins on May 5, 2008.

Cancellation Policy

NOT for University Credit: Cancellations must be requested in writing via fax or email, and received by June 2, 2008.  A $35 cancellation fee will be assessed to cover administrative costs. There are no refunds for no-shows; however, substitutions are welcome without penalty.  If original payment was made by credit card, please allow 5-7 working days for the refund; if original payment was made by check, a W-9 is required in order to process a refund. This may take 4 weeks.

FOR University Credit: Students who are taking courses FOR credit and wish to drop the class must follow deadlines and procedures established by the Registrar’s Office.

The University and reserves the right to revise program content and presentation, or to cancel the program if registration criteria are not met or when conditions beyond USF’s control prevail.  If the program is cancelled, the University’s liability is limited to refund of the registration fee paid by each registrant.  If a course does not have enough students it will be cancelled.  This determination will be made by May 16, 2008.  All registrants will be notified by e-mail as soon as the course has been confirmed or cancelled so that they can make travel arrangements.

Sheraton Sand Key Resort
1160 Gulf Blvd.
Clearwater Beach, FL 33767
727-595-1611
www.sheratonsandkey.com

USF COPH
The Lawton & Rhea Chiles Center for Healthy Mothers and Babies
LRC 108
3111 E. Fletcher Ave.
(between Bruce B. Downs Blvd. & 42nd Street)
Tampa, FL 33613
Phone: (813) 974-3623
Fax: (813) 974-4718

Students are on own for lunch each day. Please click the link below to download a map of restaurants in the area:
Food Map

Parking
Students coming from a distance may stay in any of the hotels listed below, many of which offer complimentary shuttle service to the USF campus..  If you drive a car on campus and are not already a student with a parking permit, you may purchase parking permits for the number of days that the course meets on campus by indicating as such on your registration form. Parking permits will be mailed to you.
PARKING MAP

Off-Campus Lodging / Hotel
Note: Hotels, except for the Embassy Suites, are not within easy walking distance of the campus. The order in which the hotels are listed does not imply an ordered recommendation.

• Embassy Suites Tampa – USF/Busch Gardens
  3705 Spectrum Boulevard
  Tampa, Florida 33612
  813-977-7066
  Embassy Suites USF Website
  Located at edge of USF campus
  
  
• Hampton Inn & Suites – Tampa North
  8210 Hidden River Parkway & Fletcher Ave.
  Tampa, FL 33637
  813-903-6000
  Hampton Inn Website
  
  
• Wingate by Wyndham Tampa
  3751 East Fowler Ave.
  Tampa, FL 33612
  813-979-2828
  Wingate Tampa Website
  Complimentary local shuttle service.
  
  
• AmeriSuites Tampa – Near Busch Gardens
  11408 North 30th Street
  Tampa, FL 33612
  813-979-1922
  AmeriSuites Website
  
  
• Residence Inn by Marriott – Tampa North
  13420 North Telecom Parkway
  Tampa, FL 33637
  813-972-4400
  Marriott Website
  
  
• TownePlace Suites by Marriott – Tampa North
  6800 Woodstork Road
  Tampa, FL 33637
  813-975-9777
  TownPlace Website

Please call the CPD Office at (813) 974-4296 or (800) 852-5362 by December 21, 2007 if a reasonable accommodation for a disability is needed.

Events, activities and facilities of the University of South Florida are available without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, disability, age, or Vietnam veteran status as provided by law and in accordance with the University’s respect for personal dignity.