Provides a brief overview of focus groups; discusses the use of undergraduate focus groups on two campuses of the University of California library system; describes methodologies used, including interviews and questionnaires; and describes new directions the libraries were led as a result of student input. (Author/LRW)

Summarizes a study applying a focus interviewing technique to assist stakeholders with evaluating a 3-day staff-development training with monthly follow up sessions. Contrasts use of surveys and focus-group interviews as assessment tools. New information gained from focus groups helped the principal identify weaknesses in the staff-development…

Describes a mentoring program developed at Augusta State University that used e-mail and a list server to link experienced teachers with new teachers who needed advice about classroom management, administrative demands, overcoming a sense of isolation, and the need for support. Reports on results of interviews and focus-group sessions. (LRW)

Focus groups in charter schools in five states found reasons for strong parent participation and reasons for lack of participation, which include lack of school follow-through, busy lifestyle, mismatch of opportunities and interests, and trusting the school to educate children. (SK)

This article describes a 2-year qualitative study designed to enhance understanding of social integration by including the perspectives of individuals with intellectual disabilities. It discusses the procedures and strategies used to involve individuals with intellectual disabilities, including individual interviews and focus groups to collect…

Examines the visual memories of women over 70 years old that take place during a long life and the roles of visual culture in memory and in mental images through interview and focus groups. Indicates that older women's stories anticipate feminist issues and do not conform to traditional male models of understanding. (CMK)

Summarizes a study investigating teachers,' principals,' and superintendents' perceptions of leadership by analyzing qualitative data collected from three focus groups of seven participants apiece. All three groups had similar value systems, but differed greatly in skill and knowledge domains. Teachers stressed the personality perspective;…

A diverse community, combined with a school division lacking independent taxing authority, led Fairfax County (Maryland) Public Schools to public participation in the budget process. Steps involved developing an objective, identifying the audience, establishing formats (surveys, focus groups, and voice polls), developing a timeline, and reporting…

This article outlines a variety of communication strategies for effective collaboration in school settings, including conducting a needs assessment, providing professional development, producing newsletters, forming study groups, and conducting small-group dialogues. Topics for conversation are discussed and sample needs assessment items are…

Explores criteria for successful adoption of a Web-based collaborative technology in a graduate class. Results of focus groups and surveys demonstrated that classic diffusion of innovation dimensions could be applied to education if implemented correctly, and explains why the implementation of new technology was unsuccessful in this class.…

The closed-interval signed area (CSA) and closed-interval unsigned area (CUA) statistics were studied by Monte Carlo simulation to detect differential item functioning (DIF) when the reference and focal groups had different parameter distributions. Different behaviors of the CSA and CUA as functions of the parameters are discussed. (SLD)

The Ontario Teachers' Federation is hosting forums where community members talk in small groups with teacher facilitators about positive ways to improve education. For many community participants, it is the first time their views have been sought. Given the opportunity to discuss public education in a nonconfrontational way, participants have…

Evaluated the impact of printed promotional materials on the recruitment of college freshmen using focus groups of students attending a large, southern metropolitan university. Students provided detailed suggestions on ways to improve the method of distribution, graphic design, and content of the materials. (Author/DB)

Content analysis of focus groups attended by 86 early intervention specialists revealed six factors affecting professional comfort with consultation: (1) child characteristics, (2) consultee characteristics, (3) program characteristics, (4) consultant characteristics, (5) available resources, and (6) consultant's history with the program. No…

Focus group discussions offer participants time to discuss particular topics. This article discusses some results of several graduate students' attempts to implement focus group research. After a brief review of literature reflecting the use of focus groups and recommendations for their use, the author reports their reactions and their…