Focus Group Discussion Guide Generator
Market ResearchbeginnerClaude 3.5 Sonnet or GPT-4o. Both excel at generating natural, conversational discussion guides with strong probing questions. Claude is slightly better at maintaining conversational tone and logical flow; GPT-4o is faster for quick iterations.
When to Use This Prompt
Use this prompt when planning a focus group session and need a structured discussion guide quickly. It's ideal for product teams, UX researchers, and marketing teams validating concepts, testing messaging, or understanding customer pain points before launching campaigns or products.
The Prompt
Create a comprehensive focus group discussion guide for the following research objective:
## Research Details
- **Product/Service**: [Product or service name]
- **Target Audience**: [Describe participant demographics, e.g., "women aged 25-40, working professionals, urban areas"]
- **Research Objective**: [What you want to learn, e.g., "understand pain points with current solutions" or "test messaging for new product launch"]
- **Session Duration**: [e.g., "90 minutes"]
- **Number of Participants**: [e.g., "8-10 people"]
## Guide Requirements
Generate a discussion guide that includes:
1. **Opening/Warm-up** (5 minutes): Ice-breaker questions to build rapport
2. **Background Questions** (10 minutes): Questions about participant experiences and current behaviors
3. **Core Discussion Topics** (40-50 minutes): 5-7 open-ended questions exploring the research objective
4. **Probing Questions**: Follow-up prompts for deeper insights
5. **Closing Questions** (10 minutes): Summary and final thoughts
For each question, include:
- The primary question
- 2-3 probing follow-ups
- Estimated time
- Key listening points (what to listen for)
Make questions open-ended, non-leading, and conversational. Avoid jargon. Include transition statements between sections.
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Tips for Best Results
- 1.Customize the research objective clearly—vague goals produce generic guides. Be specific about what decisions this research will inform.
- 2.Add 2-3 competitor or concept images to the prompt if testing reactions to specific designs or messaging for more targeted probing questions.
- 3.Include any sensitive topics or constraints (e.g., 'avoid questions about pricing if budget is confidential') to keep the guide appropriate for your audience.
- 4.After generating the guide, ask the AI to create a moderator's briefing document with tone guidance, potential red flags to watch for, and how to handle difficult participants.
Example Output
# Focus Group Discussion Guide: Sustainable Fitness Apparel
## Opening/Warm-up (5 minutes)
**Question**: "Let's start with something easy—tell us your name and what brought you here today. What's your relationship with fitness and athletic wear?"
- *Probing*: "What brands do you currently wear when you exercise?"
- *Key Listening Point*: Brand familiarity, lifestyle integration
## Background Questions (10 minutes)
**Question**: "Walk us through what you look for when buying athletic clothing. What matters most to you?"
- *Probing*: "How important is sustainability to you compared to fit, price, or brand?"
- *Probing*: "Have you ever purchased eco-friendly athletic wear? What was that experience like?"
- *Key Listening Point*: Priority hierarchy, awareness of sustainable options
## Core Discussion Topics (45 minutes)
**Topic 1: Current Challenges** (10 minutes)
**Question**: "What frustrates you most about the athletic apparel options available today?"
- *Probing*: "Tell me about a recent purchase you regretted. What went wrong?"
- *Probing*: "If you could change one thing about your current athletic wardrobe, what would it be?"
- *Key Listening Point*: Unmet needs, pain points, emotional drivers
**Topic 2: Sustainability Perception** (10 minutes)
**Question**: "When you hear 'sustainable fashion,' what comes to mind?"
- *Probing*: "Do you believe sustainable athletic wear can perform as well as traditional options?"
- *Probing*: "What would make you trust that a brand is truly sustainable?"
- *Key Listening Point*: Perception gaps, skepticism, trust factors
**Topic 3: Messaging Response** (10 minutes)
**Question**: "[Show messaging/concept] What's your initial reaction to this?"
- *Probing*: "What message resonates most with you and why?"
- *Probing*: "What would make you actually buy this product?"
- *Key Listening Point*: Emotional response, purchase intent signals
**Topic 4: Price & Value** (10 minutes)
**Question**: "How much would you expect to pay for high-quality, sustainable athletic wear?"
- *Probing*: "Would you pay a premium for sustainability? What's the limit?"
- *Probing*: "What would justify the price difference to you?"
- *Key Listening Point*: Price sensitivity, value perception, willingness to pay
**Topic 5: Decision Drivers** (5 minutes)
**Question**: "What would be the deciding factor in choosing a new athletic brand?"
- *Probing*: "How much do reviews and peer recommendations influence you?"
- *Key Listening Point*: Social proof importance, decision-making criteria
## Closing Questions (10 minutes)
**Question**: "Is there anything else you'd like to share about athletic wear or sustainability that we haven't covered?"
**Question**: "If you could describe your ideal athletic brand in three words, what would they be?"
- *Key Listening Point*: Unprompted insights, brand personality preferences
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