Dissertation Focus Group Help: How to Plan, Run and Analyse Focus Groups UK Guide
Last updated: November 2026 · Reviewed by the HND Assignment Help tutoring team
Quick answer
A focus group is a moderated group discussion, usually with about 5–8 participants, used in UK dissertations to explore shared views, experiences and the way people talk about a topic. To use one well you need a clear reason for choosing a group over individual interviews, a topic guide, ethical approval, a sensible recruitment and recording plan, and a transparent analysis method such as thematic analysis. Marks are earned mainly in the methodology (justification, ethics, procedure) and in how rigorously you analyse and report the discussion.
This guide is for UK undergraduate and master’s students in business, education, health and social care, nursing and the social sciences who are considering focus groups for primary research. It explains when a focus group is the right method, how to plan and run one, how to analyse the data and how to write it up in your methodology chapter. It does not replace your university’s research ethics policy, which you must follow.
Dissertation focus group at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| What it is | A qualitative method: a facilitated discussion among a small group about a set of topics |
| Typical group size | Around 5–8 participants per group; many student projects run 2–4 groups (check your supervisor’s expectations) |
| Typical length | About 60–90 minutes per session |
| Key documents | Topic guide, participant information sheet, consent form, ethics application |
| Common analysis | Thematic analysis (for example, Braun and Clarke’s six phases), sometimes framework analysis |
| Where the marks sit | Methodology justification, ethics, rigour of analysis and quality of findings |
Section-by-section approach
1. Justify the method
Markers want to see that you chose a focus group deliberately. Explain what the group setting adds: interaction between participants, shared language, how views are challenged or agreed. Then acknowledge limitations, such as dominant voices, social desirability and less depth per person than one-to-one interviews.
| Choose a focus group when… | Choose individual interviews when… |
|---|---|
| You want to see how a group discusses, agrees and disagrees | The topic is sensitive or personal |
| Participants share an experience (for example, the same role or service) | You need each person’s detailed story |
| You want to generate ideas or test reactions | Participants are senior or hard to schedule together |
| Time is limited and you need several perspectives at once | Power differences in a group could silence people |
2. Plan sampling and recruitment
Most student focus groups use purposive sampling: you choose people who have the experience your research question is about. Decide whether groups should be homogeneous (for example, all nurses on one ward grade) to encourage open talk, or mixed to show contrasting views. Over-recruit slightly, because some people will not attend.
3. Write a topic guide
A topic guide is a short list of open questions in a funnel order. Keep it to roughly five or six main questions with prompts.
| Stage | Purpose | Example question style (invented) |
|---|---|---|
| Opening | Warm-up, everyone speaks once | “Tell us your role and how long you have worked here.” |
| Introductory | Bring the topic into focus | “What comes to mind when you hear ‘flexible working’?” |
| Key questions (2–3) | Answer your research question | “How has flexible working changed the way your team communicates?” |
| Ending | Check nothing is missed | “Of everything we discussed, what matters most to you?” |
4. Ethics and consent
You will almost always need approval from your university research ethics committee before recruiting. Your application should cover informed consent, the right to withdraw, how recordings are stored securely in line with UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018, how quotations will be anonymised, and the limits of confidentiality in a group setting (you can ask participants to keep the discussion private, but you cannot guarantee it).
5. Running the session
Act as moderator, not participant. Set ground rules, make sure quieter people are invited in, and avoid giving your own opinion. If possible, ask a classmate to take notes on who speaks and on the group mood. Record the session (with consent) and transcribe it, labelling speakers with codes such as FG1-P3.
6. Analysing focus group data
Use a recognised method and describe it step by step in your methodology. Thematic analysis is the most common choice at undergraduate and master’s level.
Worked method example (not an answer)
Imagine an invented study with three focus groups of six retail supervisors each, discussing staff scheduling apps. After transcribing, the student reads all three transcripts twice, codes each meaningful statement (for example, “last-minute shift changes”, “fairness of allocation”), groups related codes into candidate themes, checks each theme against the full data set, then names and defines three final themes. In the write-up they note where a view was shared across all groups and where one group disagreed, because interaction is the distinctive feature of focus group data. The scenario and themes are invented to show the process only.
Common mistake
Treating a focus group as six interviews at once. If your analysis only quotes individuals and never mentions agreement, disagreement or how the conversation developed, you lose the main reason for choosing the method. A second common error is failing to justify group size and number of groups.
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How assessors judge focus group research in a dissertation
| Criterion | What a top-band answer shows | What loses marks |
|---|---|---|
| Method justification | Clear reason why a group method fits the research question, with limitations acknowledged | Method chosen “because it is quick” |
| Ethics | Approval obtained, consent and data handling explained, group confidentiality limits noted | Ethics mentioned in one line, no data storage plan |
| Procedure | Sampling, recruitment, topic guide and moderation explained so the study could be repeated | Vague description of how the groups were run |
| Analysis rigour | A named analysis method followed step by step, with an audit trail in the appendices | Themes appear with no explanation of how they were found |
| Use of group data | Findings show interaction, consensus and dissent | Isolated quotes with no group context |
Pre-submission checklist
- Research question genuinely suits a group discussion
- Ethics approval received before recruitment
- Participant information sheet and consent form in appendices
- Topic guide included and matches your research questions
- Group size, number of groups and sampling explained and justified
- Analysis method named and steps described
- Quotations anonymised with consistent speaker codes
- Limitations of the group setting discussed
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Dissertation focus group answer hints and sample structure
There is no sample focus group dissertation to copy: your participants and data are your own. What you can use is a pattern for writing up the method. Here is a typical layout for the focus group parts of a 10,000–12,000 word dissertation; adjust to your handbook.
| Part | Suggested words | Share of marks (typical) | What to put in it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research design and rationale | 300–400 | High | Qualitative approach, why a focus group, limitations |
| Sampling and recruitment | 200–300 | Moderate | Purposive sampling, inclusion criteria, number and size of groups |
| Data collection | 250–350 | Moderate | Topic guide, moderation, recording, transcription |
| Ethics | 200–300 | Moderate | Approval, consent, anonymity, data storage, group confidentiality |
| Data analysis | 300–400 | High | Named method, step-by-step process, coding examples in appendix |
| Trustworthiness | 150–250 | Moderate | Credibility, reflexivity, audit trail |
Treat the word and mark guidance as typical only; your marking scheme decides the real weighting.
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Frequently asked questions
How many people should be in a focus group for a dissertation?
Around 5–8 participants per group is a common guideline. Smaller groups can work for specialist topics. Agree the size with your supervisor and justify it in your methodology.
How many focus groups do I need?
Many student projects run between two and four groups, depending on the research question and time available. Explain your choice in relation to the depth of data you need.
Can I run a focus group online?
Yes. Online focus groups on platforms such as Microsoft Teams or Zoom are common. Mention how you handled consent, recording, data security and the different group dynamics online.
Do I need ethics approval for a focus group?
Almost always. Any research with human participants at a UK university normally needs approval from the research ethics committee before you recruit anyone.
How do I analyse focus group data?
Most students use thematic analysis: transcribe, code, develop themes, review them and define them. Also note where participants agreed, disagreed or changed their views during the discussion.
What are the disadvantages of focus groups?
Dominant participants, social desirability, limited confidentiality and less depth per person than interviews. Discuss these and explain how you reduced them.
Can a tutor help with my focus group research?
Yes. A tutor can help you plan the topic guide, explain analysis methods and give feedback on your write-up. Data collection, analysis and writing must remain your own work.
Related help
- Dissertation help UK: tutoring and feedback
- Dissertation methodology chapter guide
- Thematic analysis for a UK dissertation
- How to design a dissertation questionnaire
Academic integrity note: This guide explains how to approach the task. It is not an answer to copy, and nothing here should be submitted as your own work. Our tutors offer one-to-one tutoring, feedback on your drafts and proofreading only, in line with the Skills and Post-16 Education Act 2022 and your university or college academic misconduct policy. Always follow your own brief, marking criteria and your institution’s rules on AI use.