Focus groups
If an organization has created a resource, focus groups can be a useful way to find out how it is being used, how the target audience responds to it, what problems they encounter, how they find the interface, etc. The discussion is moderated, and usually focus groups comprise 6-12 participants, rarely more. Focus groups can be conducted online, but more usually they are face-to-face encounters.
Focus groups are a useful tool for finding out the specific benefits gained by a representative group, so as to indicate a broader beneficial group. Leading a focus group needs high skill levels to gain a meaningful outcome and rigorous identification and selection of representative participants. Focus groups work very well for social and cultural impacts, especially for Community values.
See: Natasha Mack, Cynthia Woodsong, Kathleen M. MacQueen, Greg Guest, and Emily Namey, “Focus Groups” in Qualitative Research Methods: A Data Collector’s Field Guide (Family Health International, 2005): 51-82.