From Inquiry to Academic Writing A Practical Guide, 3rd edition

338 CHAPTER 11 | OTHER METHOdS Of InquIRy: InTERvIEwS And fOCuS GROuPS

■ Prepare your script

Many of the guidelines for designing interview questions (see pp. 332–34)

apply equally well to focus group questions. So, for example, you might start

by establishing common ground or with a couple of nonthreatening questions.

For variety, and to keep the discussion moving, use open-ended questions.

Consider asking participants for definitions, impressions, examples, their

ideas of others’ perceptions, and the like. Also, you might quote from key

FIGURE 11.3 Sample Consent Form for a Focus Group

Focus Group Consent Form

You are invited to participate in a study of academic writing at the university

over the next four years. You were selected from a random sample of all first-

year students. If you decide to participate, you will

1. provide the researcher with copies of the writing you complete for every
   class and the assignment, when available.


2. attend up to four focus group sessions during a given academic year.


3. allow the researcher to use excerpts from the writing you complete
   and the focus group sessions in publications about research with the
   understanding that your identity will not be revealed at any time.
   In all, out-of-class participation will take no more than four hours during an
   academic year.
   Participation is completely voluntary; you may stop participating at any
   time prior to completion of the project. Should you have any questions at any
   time, you are welcome to contact the researcher at the address below or via
   e-mail. Your decision to participate or not will have no effect on your grade
   in any course or prejudice your future relationship with the university. One
   benefit of participating in the study is that you will have the opportunity to
   learn important information about writing.
   If you are willing to participate in this research, please read and sign the
   consent form below. You will be given a copy of this form to keep.

CONSENT FORM

I agree to participate in all of the procedures above. I understand that my identity will

be protected during the study and that instructors will not have access to the statements

I make in focus group sessions. I also understand that my name will not be revealed

when data from the research are presented in publications. (Digital files will be kept for

five years and then removed from relevant databases.) I have read the above and give

the researcher, Stuart Greene, and his coauthors permission to use excerpts from what

I write or transcripts of tapes without identifying me as the writer or speaker.

Date Signature

Signature of Researcher

[Telephone number] / [E-mail address]

11_GRE_5344_Ch11_313_342.indd 338 11/19/14 11:02 AM