Produce a record of the focus groups and draft notes.

Once you have assigned analysis team members to specific focus groups, arrange a time for all members to come back together to discuss their findings. In the meantime, proceed with your chosen recording method.

Analysis team members should attend the focus group sessions, read the transcripts, or listen to the tapes, in accordance with the recording method. Those who attend the focus group sessions or listen later to the tapes should try to capture as much of the participants' own language as possible. All members should draft notes on each session, organized by the key questions. We have prepared information and samples that may be useful as you begin this process. We offer "tips" for analyzing transcripts (developed for a Fayette County middle school's analysis team members). You may also view excerpts of transcripts from two focus groups with students from the same school - one group of male students and one group of female students. The transcript excerpts present each group's responses to the question, "Imagine that ten years from now, you're all teachers at this high school. You love your school and you want to do a great job for the students. What will your teaching be like?" We also present a brief analysis of the students' responses.

We anticipate analysis team members will spend two to five hours analyzing each focus group. Again, encourage your analysts to work together, share ideas, and exchange notes. The report writers in particular should work with as many individuals/groups as possible in order to get a feel for the overall flavor of the focus groups and the general findings. This collaboration will be especially useful if you are comparing results across schools or school levels.

Next: Hold a facilitator debriefing session.