Community engagement activity: Logic Vs Emotions in

forwarding messages

CONTENTS

Community engagement activity: Logic Vs Emotions in forwarding messages .................. 1

Teacher’s Section .............................................................................................................................. 1

Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................... 1

Expected Outcomes – .................................................................................................................................................. 1

Steps for the activity .................................................................................................................................................. 1

Questionnaire for FGD ............................................................................................................................................. 4

TEACHER’S SECTION

INTRODUCTION

A Focus Group Discussion (FGD) is a good way to gather people from similar backgrounds or experiences

to discuss a specific topic of interest. These days, fake news and misinformation about public policies

spread like fire on WhatsApp, and other social media platforms. What forces people to forward such

messages without thinking about the consequences.

This month when we are talking about themes, “Liberty of Expression and Thoughts” and “My

Responsibility’, Desh Apnayen motivates our young ACTIZENs to interact with small community groups

to understand their opinion and behavior through FGDs.

EXPECTED OUTCOMES –

1. Students will be able to understand people’s behaviour towards messages and why they forward

these on social media.

2. Students will be able to collect facts about opinions and behavioural aspects of different groups

3. Students will understand the value and importance of responsible behaviour with regards to their

right to think and express freely.

STEPS FOR THE ACTIVITY

1. The activity can be done individually, or in pairs.

2. Focus Group Discussion should be facilitated with a group of 8-10 people from the same age group.

3. Ask questions in an informal manner, and try to take consensus of the group to record the response.

In FGD, the response should be recorded on a majority basis.

4. One member can ask a series of questions and the other team member can record the answer

simultaneously.

STUDENT’S SECTION

GUIDELINES FOR FACILITATOR

What is FGD?

FGDs are a predetermined semi-structured interview led by a skilled moderator. The moderator asks

broad questions to elicit responses and generate discussion among the participants. The moderator’s

goal is to generate the maximum amount of discussion and opinions within a given time period.

How FGDs will be helpful?

They are helpful for adding meaning and understanding to existing knowledge or getting at the “why”

and “how” of a topic.

How to create your own questionnaire?

1. Keep the number of questions reasonable (under 10, if possible)

2. Keep the questions simple and short.

3. Ensure that the wording on questions is clear

4. Be careful that questions about sensitive issues or topics are asked carefully.

5. Make sure that questions are worded in a way that cannot be answered with a simple “Yes” or “No”

answer. Using words like “Why” and “How” will help elicit better responses from participants. In short,

ask open ended questions.

Questions Types

There should be three types of questions in a Focus Group Discussion:

1. Probe questions: these introduce participants to the discussion topic and make them feel more

comfortable sharing their opinion with the group. For e.g., If you want to take the opinion of parents’

group on blood donation initiative in your school, you can ask-

a. How familiar are you about blood donation camps conducted by schools?

b. How often do you or any family member donate blood?

c. Why do you think is it necessary, or not necessary to participate in such camps?

2. Follow-up questions: delve further into the discussion topic and the participants’ opinions

For e.g.,

a. What do you like the most about your school’s social service programmes?

b. What influences you to participate in such programmes?

3. Exit question: check to ensure that you didn’t miss anything

a. Is there anything else you’d like to say about the camp?

Length of Focus Group Discussion – 60 to 90 Minutes is ideal time

No. of group members to be involved – 8-10 at max.

Points to remember

• Ensure Homogeneity in group – Depends on the topic of FGD, ensure gender, age, hierarchy is not a

constraint for the group to talk freely on sensitive topics.

• Be sure to make the location and time of the FGD clear to all participants.

• If you anticipate that some participants will not show up, invite 10-20% extra participants. However,

be careful to not create too large of a group.

• Be sure that the FGD is in a public place that is convenient for participants.

• Moderator techniques for engaging respondents and collecting information –

• Remain neutral - No nodding or shaking your head, raising eyebrows, agreeing or disagreeing

with comments, or praising or condemning the participants.

• Elicit further information from shy participants with comments like “Can you tell me more

about that?”, “Help me understand what you mean”, or “Can you give an example?”

• Deal with dominant participants by acknowledging their opinion and soliciting other opinions.

Sentences like “Thank you. What do other people think?” can be helpful.

• Paraphrase or summarize long, unclear comments by participants. This shows participants that

the moderator is actively listening, and it helps the moderator to ensure he or she has

understood the participant’s statement.

• Act spontaneously if needed. If the conversation goes in an unexpected, but productive

direction, go with it and ask questions that were not on the initial questionnaire.

Please note – We are providing sample questionnaire with specific topic this month, but students can

create their own FGD questionnaire on similar or different topics with the help of guidelines given

above.

QUESTIONNAIRE FOR FGD

Name of facilitator - _________________________________________________________

Place - _____________________________________________________________________

Date - _____________________________________________________________________

Time - _____________________________________________________________________

No. of Interviewee - __________________________________________________________

Age group - _________________________________________________________________

1. How often do you use social media platforms for seeking information?

2. Do you believe that message/information related to the country should be forwarded to most of

the people/groups? If yes, Why? If No, Why?

3. Why is it necessary to check the validity of message/information before forwarding any

message/information?

4. What is more important according to you when it comes to National issue/information? (Probe

question - If participants do not respond)

Logic /Validity of message/Emotions

5. How do you check the validity of information/message before forwarding the same to others?

(Probe question - If participants do not respond)

a. Internet

b. Newspaper/News channel

c. By asking the person who forwarded the same

d. By taking opinion from the person we believe is trustworthy

e. Never checked

f. Self-assessment

6. Is there anything else you’d like to say about the topic we discussed today? (Exit question to take

consensus and end the FGD)

____________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

My observations and learning – To be filled by students individually