What is a Focus Group?
A focus group is normally about 6-8 members of the public who are recruited to a specific venue to offer their opinions on an advertising campaign, a product which already exists or which is about to be launched, or maybe about the packaging of such products. This is almost always a group of people who do not know each other and who have been recruited because they fit very specific criteria.

Is there any payment for attending a Focus Group?
Yes, you will always be paid for your time and opinions. This payment, called an "incentive," is 99% of the time given to you on the day in cash. There may be the very rare occasion when a cheque is paid to you ("the respondent") by cheque or will be posted out to you after the research

How do I get onto a group?
By checking the postings on the website entitled "current projects" and by sending an email expressing your interest in taking part and the relevant criteria which you feel would make you suitable for this research.

How many Focus Groups can I do?
The guidelines as set down by the MRS are very specific in that you can only take part in market research focus groups only once every 6 months and no more than 5 times ever.

What if I have done a group for, or am registered with, another recruiter?
You must tell us if you are registered with, or have taken part in a group for, another recruiter.
This causes serious problems for recruiters as we cannot send you out to a focus group within the 6 month time span and also you may have been to a group on behalf of the same client for both recruiters which will cause us both terrible problems.

What if I cannot attend the group once recruited or I am late?
As far as is possible, you must tell us immediately if you cannot attend the research; or at least give us as much notice as possible, so that we can replace you. If you are late, it may well be the case, that you will not be admitted into the research and will be sent away without payment. This is at the client's discretion and is totally out of the control of the recruiter.

Will I receive travel expenses or parking costs or congestion charging fees?
Most of the time, the costs of the above are included in the incentive. There may be the odd occasion when travel expenses are paid as an extra by the client; and should this be the case, you will be advised by us of this prior to the group.

What happens when I get to the group?
You will be asked to introduce yourself by first name only and to give the briefest of details about yourself, e.g. partner's job title, whether you have children or not, what you do for a living, what car you drive and what hobbies you enjoy. You are not under any obligation to describe any of the above in any detail and at no time will you have to divulge the name of the company you work for or anything more specific such as your address or your surname.

What happens to the information given on the group?
The "moderator", the person leading the group discussion, will take the notes or tape/ video recording of the discussion and will transcribe this into a report for his/her client. You will only be mentioned by first name and your comments noted by first name only so that your confidentiality is never breached and you remain anonymous at all times. The video is for the sole purpose of the moderator and is never disclosed to the client.

Will I be contacted by a 3rd party?
Some of our clients like to "pre-check" respondents prior to the focus group to ensure that you have been properly recruited and do fit the specific criteria required. Other clients may contact you after the focus group to ensure that you were properly recruited and that the recruiter treated you in a proper manner. This is just to keep an eye on recruiters and in no way reflects your position as a respondent.

If you have any further questions, please email and we will do our best to answer these to the best of our abilities.