The OLC's Online Public Awareness Action Guide

Mobilizing People

Sample focus group process for adult learners (to be hosted by community agencies)

We’re working with the Ontario Literacy Coalition/local agency to promote literacy and upgrading in our community.

At this stage, we are gathering information from a variety of people, and especially from people who have had difficult experiences with learning in the past. We want to know why you chose to take the step to learn as an adult, what keeps you interested in learning and what types of learning activities attract you the most.

• There are no right or wrong answers; we want your opinion
• We want to make sure each person has a chance to talk and give us his or her advice.
• Please be respectful of each other’s answers, even if you don’t agree.
• We will be asking you several questions. For some questions, we would prefer to have everyone answer, if possible. The discussion is free-flowing, but if we are running out of time, we may have to ask you to shorten your answer.
• Thank you for being here today, we value your opinions.

We want to ask you about your thoughts and feelings about learning.

We understand some of you were not able to read or write very well as adults. At some point, you might have decided to go to a literacy program to improve your reading, writing or numeric skills.

(Note: Primary questions are numbered. Secondary, or probing questions are indented.)

1. Was there a specific person or event that inspired you to make the decision to learn? (Describe.)
2. How long did it take you to decide to take advantage of the help that was available? If it was a long time, what stopped you?
   • How did you find out what help was available?
   • What worried you the most about taking advantage of the help?
   • In the end, what made you take action to take advantage of the help that was available?
   • How did you feel when you first started the program? How do you feel now?
   • What do you like about the program you’re in? (e.g. location, tutors, mentors, format, group, one-on-one, learning environment)
   • What are your plans, if any, for continuing to take advantage of the help?

3. Do you have a specific goal that you are working towards now? If so, please tell us about it, if you can. (Acknowledge some goals may be too private. We’re looking for attitudes about the need to keep learning throughout a person’s life.)
4. If you met someone now who told you they were not able to read, write or do math very well, what would you say to them?

Now we’d like to ask you some questions about other types of learning.

5. If you were going to learn something new, what kinds of activities would interest you the most? What kind of activity would turn you off?
6. If you wanted to convince someone to learn something new, what would you say to him or her?
   • If you saw someone in a mall, a local store, a community centre, or library – someplace public - doing a cooking demonstration, or sewing, or woodworking, or painting or exercising – and let’s assume you have the time – would you stop and watch? Why or why not?
   • What would make you want to try any of these activities, if you had never done them before in your life?
   • If you had trouble reading or writing, would you try these activities?

Communications

7. How do you find out about events or activities in your community?
8. Of these, which is the most effective way to get information to you about what’s happening?
9. Once you know about an event or activity in your community, what makes you go to the event or activity?

(Host returns to room.)

Wrap-up:

Thank you for your time. We will be sharing the information you have given us today with the people who will be organizing our campaign here. We hope you’ll participate in our activities [or specific campaign]

• Would any of you be interested in being a spokesperson for the campaign? (Explain what is involved.)

(Host helps participants complete profile sheet “About You”, pays participants, and makes up receipts.)