Attachment I:
ODPHP Physical Activity Guidelines, 2nd Edition
Moderator’s Guide for Adolescent Focus Groups
OMB Control Number: 0990-0281
December 21, 2017
Sherrette Funn
Office of the Chief Information Officer
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Submitted by:
Frances Bevington
Strategic Communication and Public Affairs Advisor
Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Session Overview: Total time – 60 minutes
Section A: Welcome and Opening Remarks (5 mins)
The moderator will explain the purpose of the session, present ground rules, and begin with warm up questions.
Section B: Discussion of Beliefs, Attitudes, and Perceptions Around Physical Activity (10 mins)
In this section, participants will complete a quick association exercise about physical activity. Then the moderator will explore participants’ beliefs, attitudes, and perceptions around physical activity.
Section C: Exercise about Physical Activity Content (10 mins)
Participants will see an example material about physical activity and discuss what they like and don’t like about this material.
Section D: Discussion of Barriers and Facilitators to Physical Activity (10 mins)
This section will explore factors that influence whether or not participants are physically active.
Section E: Exercise about Physical Activity Content (10 mins)
Participants will see an example material about physical activity and discuss what they like and don’t like about this material.
Section F: Discussion of Physical Activity Information Sources (10 mins)
In this section, participants will discuss sources of and conversations about health information related to physical activity.
Section G: Closing and Thank you (5 mins)
The moderator will thank participants for their involvement and provide a final opportunity for questions or comments.
According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this information collection is 0990-0281. The time required to complete this information collection is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time to review instructions, search existing data resources, gather the data needed, and complete and review the information collection. If you have comments concerning the accuracy of the time estimate(s) or suggestions for improving this form, please write to: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, OS/OCIO/PRA, 200 Independence Ave., S.W., Suite 336-E, Washington D.C. 20201, Attention: PRA Reports Clearance Officer
Welcome/Opening Remarks (10 minutes)
Thank you for being here today to be part of our focus group. My name is and we also have watching and taking notes for me. I work for CommunicateHealth, a health communication company. I am leading our group conversation on behalf of the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (also called ODPHP), which is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (also called HHS).
The purpose of today’s focus group is to find out what kinds of information and tools would help teens like you be more physically active. With your help, we hope to help ODPHP create images, materials, and messages that will help teens be more physically active.
A few things I want to mention as we begin:
Being a part of this group is voluntary
It’s okay for you to stop at any time. You don’t have to answer every question, but I would like to hear from everyone, so I might call on you at some point.
There are no wrong answers
I’m just interested in hearing about you and what you think — so every answer is the right answer.
I didn’t create anything I’m going to show you today — so love it or hate it, it’s all the same to me. I welcome all kinds of reactions.
It’s okay if you don’t agree with each other
In fact, I like to hear different points of view. Please share what you think — even if it’s different from what others in here are saying.
Speak up, speak clearly — and let others share too
I’m recording this session for note-taking purposes. I’ll have to write a report later and the recording will help me remember what you tell me today.
Please speak one at a time and as loudly and clearly as possible.
Let’s try to give each other “equal time” — that means no one talks too much or too little.
Let’s talk about privacy
I am interested in what you have to say. But I’m not going to tell anyone who said what. That means your name will not be included in my report, and I’ll only share the report with people working with me on this project.
Out of respect for each other, I ask that you also keep what we talk about private. Don’t share it with people who are not in the room today — except, of course, your parents or guardians.
Can we all agree to these rules? [Seek verbal confirmation from participants]
A few other details…
Our focus group will last about 1 hour, and we’ll wrap up at [time AM/PM]. We have a lot to cover — so I may occasionally interrupt the group to keep us moving.
Please turn your cell phone off, if you haven’t already.
If you need to step out to go to the bathroom, please feel free to do so one at a time.
Now, this is the only time we will go around the room one by one.
[Moderator can write bullets on easel for cues to participants. Moderator should introduce herself last.]
I would like for each of you to tell me 2 things:
Your first name
Something you like to do when you’re not in school
Thank you. Now I’m going to begin recording.
[The moderator will begin audio recording.]
Discussion of Beliefs, Attitudes, and Perceptions Around Physical Activity (10 minutes)
I’d like to do a quick activity that will help us think about physical activity. You’re going to tell me some examples of “physical activity.” I’ll write your answers on the board.
What are some examples of “physical activity”?
[Moderator writes responses on white/flip board.]
Now I’d like you to tell me more about some of the items on this list.
Tell me more about [response]… What do you like about it?
How does it make you feel when you do [X]?
[Moderator probes on a few specific examples.]
Now I’m going to give you a piece of paper and a pen. Let’s imagine the Merriam-Webster dictionary CEO has called you up and asked you to write the definition of physical activity for the newest version of their dictionary. I’m going to give you 1 minute to write down a definition of physical activity. Ready?
[Moderator asks for some definitions. If “exercise” comes up, probe on difference between exercise and physical activity.]
Exercise about Physical Activity Content Preferences (10 minutes)
Next, I’m going to show a [infographic/video/tracker] and I’d like you to tell me what you think about it.
[Moderator gives/shows participants about 3-4 minutes to look at the example product — see Example Products for Adolescent Focus Groups (Attachment Q, Stimuli for Adolescent Focus Groups).
Okay, let’s talk about this [infographic/video/tracker]!
What did you like about it? I’m going to write your answers down on the board under the happy face.
PROBE on what it looked like
What did you like about what it said? Were there any words you liked or you remember?
PROBE on ease of use for tracker
What did you not like about the [infographic/video/tracker]? I’m going to write your answers down on the board under the sad face.
PROBE on what it looked like
What did you not like about what it said? Were there any words you did not like?
OK, now let’s talk about whether this made you feel excited about being physically active. Give me a “thumbs up” if this [infographic/video/tracker] made you feel excited about physical activity, and give me a “thumbs down” if this [infographic/video/tracker] didn’t make you feel excited about physical activity.
PROBE: What would you change about this [infographic/video/tracker] to make you feel more excited about physical activity?
Discussion of Barriers and Facilitators to Physical Activity (10 minutes)
A few of you mentioned [school activities]. Can you tell me about what you do at school to be active?
How about at home? What, if anything, do people in your family do to be active?
PROBE: What kinds of physical activity do you do with people in your family?
PROBE: What kinds of physical activity do you do by yourself? With friends?
A few of you mentioned [something you liked about being active].
What else do you like about being physically active?
PROBE on “fun” responses: What makes it fun?
What, if anything, do you not like about being physically active?
PROBE on “hard” responses: What makes it hard?
PROBE: What, if anything, would make it easier?
Is there anything you’d like to do to stay active, but for one reason or another, don’t do?
PROBE: What would make it easier to do that?
Exercise about Physical Activity Content Preferences (10 minutes)
Next, I’m going to show a [infographic/video/tracker] and I’d like you to tell me what you think about it.
[Moderator gives/shows participants about 3-4 minutes to look at the example product — see Attachment Q.)
Okay, let’s talk about this [infographic/video/tracker]!
What did you like about it? I’m going to write your answers down on the board under the happy face.
PROBE on what it looked like
What did you like about what it said? Were there any words you liked or you remember?
PROBE on ease of use for tracker
What did you not like about the [infographic/video/tracker]? I’m going to write your answers down on the board under the sad face.
PROBE on what it looked like
What did you not like about what it said? Were there any words you did not like?
OK, now let’s talk about whether this made you feel excited about being physically active. Give me a “thumbs up” if this [infographic/video/tracker] made you feel excited about physical activity, and give me a “thumbs down” if this [infographic/video/tracker] didn’t make you feel excited about physical activity.
PROBE: What would you change about this [infographic/video/tracker] to make you feel more excited about physical activity?
Discussion of Physical Activity Information Sources (10 minutes)
Next, I want to know who you talk to about physical activity.
Do you talk with anyone in your family about physical activity?
At school, what have you learned about physical activity?
PROBE on school projects related to physical activity
PROBE on taking info home and talking with family members about it
Other than your teachers or parents, where else do you see or hear things about physical activity?
PROBE on TV, internet, doctors, coaches, friends, other adults
PROBE: What kinds of info would you like to get about physical activity?
Thank You and Closing (5 minutes)
That’s everything. Thank you for taking the time to be here and for participating.
Is there anything else you want to say before we finish?
It was great to meet all of you. On your way out, we want to give you thank you gift for being a part of our focus group. [Before leaving, participants’ parents/guardians will sign the incentive receipt and receive the envelope with their child’s $40 incentive and their $35 token of appreciation.]
| File Type | application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document |
| Author | Jennifer Barone |
| File Modified | 0000-00-00 |
| File Created | 2021-01-21 |