FOCUS GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE WITH LITERACY INSTRUCTORS15

I. PRELIMINARIES

(1) Introduction & Informed Consent:

Introduce myself and Caroline. Discuss our roles. Provide background on LWW Project and purpose of interview (give out 1-page project description). Pass around consent forms and go over them. Ask if there are any questions. Get participants to sign them. Pass around mailing sheet (names and addresses).

(2) Ask all group members to make introductions. Go over ground rules as follows:

"There is no hidden agenda to the discussion. What we want is for you to take this as an opportunity to share your thoughts and opinions freely on the subject of welfare reform, literacy and employment. What I am going to do is spend the next hour and a half (approximately) asking questions designed to get a full picture of your thoughts and feelings. There are no right or wrong answers to anything I ask - only your honest opinions. I will be asking you to answer some questions in turn and others I will open up for general discussion. I ask that you try to speak one at a time in a clear voice (loud enough so that the tape recorder can pick up). Please regard this tape recorder as simply an extension of my memory, so that Caroline and I can transcribe your words exactly. Everything you say, of course, is confidential and the results of this discussion will be reported anonymously. Once the report has been written the tape will be destroyed. You have each been given a pad of paper and pen in case you wish to make notes to yourselves during the interview."

Does anyone have any questions on how we are going to proceed?

II. ISSUES AND RELATED DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

(1) "The first thing I would like to do is to ask you to introduce yourself and to tell me a little bit about the literacy program you teach in. Probes: (name, your title and role, main literacy focus, funding, etc.)


15 The discussion guides used in the FGl's are included in the Appendix. The complete transcribed texts are available from the author upon request.


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