However, the warm-up section of discussion guides for focus
groups is often quicky assembled and no longer than 5 minutes.
That's typically all the time clients usually have to put
towards this task and the warm-up questions are frequently
considered throw-aways. Here are several ways to get the most
out of your focus group participants by warming them up in a way
that provides for a fruitful discussion and take-away. - Give
them homework to bring in and talk about when they introduce
themselves: a possession from home or a photograph, something
drawn often works for children or a favorite toy. - Divide the
group into pairs and have each respondent take a few minutes to
interview the other. Each introduces their partner to the group.
This can take longer if you don't keep a tab on the time, but
it's great for building support for the tasks ahead. - Bring
favorite foods in to offer respondents and have them talk about
memories or anything else triggered by the foods. - When focus
groups take place around holid