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Savvy Decision Making
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Savvy Decision Making
An Administrator's Guide to Using Focus Groups in Schools



December 2001 | 152 pages | Corwin
`Because of its comprehensive scope, this guidebook can be a single tool for designing and implementing focus groups in schools' Patricia A All, Assistant Superintendent Olathe District Schools Olathe, Kanas

Focus groups of parents, students, community members, or teachers can be an effective means of gaining support for school decisions, for modifying programmes, and for conducting research. Yet most administrators don't have a clue about designing and running an effective focus group, much less how to ensure they're gathering valid and reliable information.

Drawing on focus group methodology, this book uses educational examples, guidelines, and step-by-step guidance to help administrators utilize this powerful qualitative research tool.

 
Preface
 
Acknowledgments
 
About the Authors
 
1. Using Focus Groups in Schools
 
2. Selecting a Moderator
 
3. Clarifying the Purpose
 
4. Determining the Composition of Focus Groups
 
5. Making Decisions About Scheduling Focus Groups
 
6. Finalizing Important Details
 
7. Recruiting Participants
 
8. Developing a Focus Group Guide
 
9. Moderating a Focus Group
 
10. Analyzing and Reporting Focus Group Findings
 
References
 
Index

"Because of its comprehensive scope, this guidebook can be a single tool for designing and implementing focus groups in schools."

Patricia A. All
Assistant Superintendent, Olathe District Schools, Olathe, KS

"This is truly an amazing resource for anyone using – or thinking of using – focus groups for any sort of decision making in educational organizations...a blueprint for success."

Richard Keaster, Professor & Chair
University of South Mississippi

For instructors

Please contact your Academic Consultant to check inspection copy availability for your course.

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ISBN: 9780761978183
£62.00

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