Instrument #4: Focus Group Discussion Guide for Use with Program Participants

APPENDIX D

Focus Group Discussion Guide for Use with Program Participants

Evaluation of Pregnancy Prevention Approaches (PPA)

Focus Group Discussion Guide for Use with Program Participants

Instructions: Program participants may not participate in the focus group if the assent/consent form is signed and submitted. Assent/consent forms require signatures of both the focus group participant and a parent/guardian if the participant is either a minor (i.e. under 18 years of age) or a high school student. Forms shall be collected and archived, but identifying information on participants shall not be collected during the focus group discussion.

[Introduction.] Hello! We are collecting information on what it’s like to participate in [ENTER NAME OF PROGRAM], and programs like this one. We ask for your honest opinion about this program. Please note that the information that you provide here will be used primarily for researchers like me/us to discuss your program and programs like yours. To the extent allowable by law, we will not release your responses to anyone outside of this room in a form that identifies you.

Program Name:

Program Location:

Sponsoring Organization:

Individual(s) Interviewed: (names and titles)

Date of Communication:

Module A: Program Activities, and Participant Involvement

A1. [Current Program’s Activities] Please tell me about this program.

Probes: What is this program like? What kind of activities do you participate in?

A2. [Initial Participation] Please tell me how you initially became involved in this program.

Probes: How did you come to be involved in this program? Were you selected? Did you choose to be involved? Did anyone ask you to get involved?

A3. [Daily Activities] On a typical day, what kinds of things do you do in this program?

A4. [Curriculum and Activity Materials] Please describe the materials you use for this program.

Probes: Do you have a textbook for this activity? May I see this textbook? Do you know where your instructor gets his or her materials? Do you have examples of any of these materials?

A5. [Engagement with Instructor] Please tell me about your instructor – what is it like to learn with her/him?

Probes: How would you describe your instructor(s)/facilitator(s)? Exciting? Boring? What kinds of things does s/he/they do that you like or dislike? Do you feel like you have a close connection to your instructor and/or other program staff?

A6. [Favorite, and Least Favorite, Activities] Please tell me about your favorite, and least favorite, activities in this program.

Probes: Are there any activities, that you have participated in, that you have liked? What are some of your favorite activities? Are there any activities, that you have participated in, that you have not liked? What are some of your least favorite activities?

A7. [Special Events] Please describe any special events that have occurred as part of this program.

Probes: Does your program ever do anything out of the ordinary? For example, classes for parents, parent-youth workshops, holiday or other celebrations, newsletters?

A8. [Participation] Please tell me how you would rate your current level of participation.

Probes: Do you think you are highly involved in the program’s activities? Do you think you are not involved very much at all?

A9. [Schedule] Please tell me about the schedule for this program.

Probes: How frequently does this program meet (e.g. during the week, month, etc.)? When does the program begin (e.g. in the school year, in the summer), and when does it end (e.g. at the end of the school year, after 12^th grade)? Do you think that this program is long enough/too short?

A10. [Additional Information about Program] Please tell me any other information we should know about how this program is structured, and how you are involved in it.

Module B: Program Content and Outcomes

B1. [Content] Without going into too much detail – we don’t want anyone to feel uncomfortable – please tell me about the kinds of things you discuss during this program.

Probes: Do you discuss pregnancy prevention? What kinds of topics tend to get a lot of attention?

B2. [Appropriateness of Content] Again, without going into too much detail – we don’t want anyone to feel uncomfortable – please tell me if there’s anything in the course that seems over your head, or too basic.

Probes: Do you think you’re learning the right kinds of things for people your age/grade? Does anything not feel age-appropriate?

B3. [Instructor Elimination of Content] Please tell me if there are ever times that the instructor states that there are some things you won’t discuss as a group. What are those things? Again, please don’t feel required to answer – we don’t want anyone to feel uncomfortable.

B4. [Sufficiency of Content] Considering this type of program, please tell me whether you think that the majority of relevant topics are discussed. Again, please don’t feel required to answer – we don’t want anyone to feel uncomfortable.

Probes: Is there anything you wish you could discuss in class? Have you ever tried to discuss these things?

B5. [Activities Leading to Personal Outcomes] Now, I don’t want you to be specific, but has anyone made a decision about how to lead your life, or how to act in certain situations, because of this program? Please describe anything you did in this program – such as an activity, or a discussion, or something else – that made you change your mind about how to lead your life, or how to act in certain situations. What was that “thing” or “things” in this program? Again, please don’t feel required to answer – we don’t want anyone to feel uncomfortable.

B6. [Activities Leading to Outcomes with Peers] Has anyone made a decision about how to talk with your friends about [FILL IN EXAMPLE TOPICS, USING ANSWERS FROM CONTENT QUESTION], because of this program? Please describe anything you did in this program – such as an activity, or a discussion, or something else – that made you decide how to talk with your friends. What was that “thing” or “things” in this program? Does anyone have examples of how they have talked with their friends differently, because of this program? Again, please don’t feel required to answer – we don’t want anyone to feel uncomfortable.

B7. [Activities Leading to Outcomes with Parents] Please tell me about any conversations you’ve had with your parents because of this program. Again, please don’t feel required to answer – we don’t want anyone to feel uncomfortable.

Probes: Please describe anything you did in this program – such as an activity, or a discussion, or something else – that made you decide to talk to your parent(s). What was that “thing” or “things” in this program?

B8. [Additional Information about Content and Outcomes] Please tell me anything else we should know about what you learn in this program, and its possible effects on you and others around you.

Module C: Overall Experience and Related Experience

C1. [Overall Experience] Please describe your overall experience with this program.

Probes: Overall, are you glad that you have been involved in this program? Why or why not? Would you do it again if you had the choice? Why or why not?

C2. [Related Prior Experience] Please tell me about any program like this you were involved in before.

Probes: Have you ever been involved in a program like this before? Where? When? What kind of program was it? How does this program compare to that program? Which do/did you like better?

C2. [Related Current Experience] Please tell me about any program like this that you, or your friends, are involved in.

Probes: Are you currently involved in a program like this? Where? When? What about your friends? What kind of program is it? How does this program compare to that program? Which do you like better? What about your friends?

C3. [Things to Change] Lastly, if there was one thing you could change about this current program, please tell me what that would be.

Program Materials to Obtain

Curriculum and curriculum materials