Focus Group Research on the Draft Questionnaire

We recommend pre-testing the questionnaire before it is administered to the employees in your organization. This normally involves convening four to six groups of about ten people each from different parts of the organization and asking them to help critique the questionnaire. In less than one and a half hours, they can complete the survey, discuss their reactions to it, identify questions that are ambiguous or unclear, and share their thoughts about other issues that should be included.

At this stage it is not necessary to conduct a rigorous random sampling of different populations for participation in the focus groups. Groups formed by nomination or opportunity would be sufficient. The Steering Committee will assist in the recruitment of these focus groups. The focus group will be moderated by the Survey Consultant. There should be a minimum of one group of management employees, one group of exempt employees, and one group of non-exempt employees. The Survey Consultant prepares a final draft of the questionnaire following the moderation of the focus groups. The Steering Committee members would review the final version and get final approval from their units.