Focus Group Discussion Guide Template
A copy-and-fill moderator's guide – consent, ground rules, warm-up, key questions with probes, and wrap-up – built to be recorded and transcribed for analysis.
A focus group discussion guide keeps a moderator on topic and on time without turning the session into an interrogation. It sets the order of play – consent and ground rules first, then a gentle warm-up, then the key questions that carry your research, and finally a wrap-up – while leaving room to follow whatever the group brings up. The point is a natural conversation that still covers everything you need.
The template below is a complete fill-in artifact. Replace the bracketed placeholders, keep the key questions open-ended, and lean on the probes only when an answer needs opening up. Once the session is recorded, the analysis starts with a clean transcript: see how to transcribe a focus group to turn the recording into speaker-labeled text, then how to analyze interview transcripts to code and theme it.
The template
Focus Group Discussion Guide
Study name / project:(e.g. New app onboarding, Spring 2026)
Session topic:(one line on what this group is about)
Date, time, and location / platform:(in person or video call)
Moderator (and note-taker / observers):(names and roles)
Target length:(e.g. 75 minutes)
Number of participants:(6 to 8 is common)
1. Introduction and consent (about 5 minutes)
Read this aloud, adapting the wording to your study. "Thanks for coming. I'm [moderator name], and this is [note-taker / observer name]. Today we're talking about [topic] for about [length]. There are no right or wrong answers – we want your honest views, including where you disagree."
State the recording and data plan clearly: "We are making [an audio / a video] recording so we don't miss anything and can review it later. The recording and any transcript will be used for [purpose] and stored [where / how long]. Your name will [not] appear in reporting."
Confirm on the recording that every participant agrees to be recorded before questions begin.
Note that participation is voluntary and anyone can skip a question or leave at any time.
This consent wording is a starting point, not legal advice. Recording-consent law varies by jurisdiction, and some places require every participant to agree before anyone records. Check the rules that apply to your participants and location, and adapt this section accordingly.
2. Ground rules (about 3 minutes)
"A few quick ground rules so the conversation runs well."
One person speaks at a time – it keeps the recording clear and easier to transcribe.
Every view is welcome; you don't have to agree with each other, and you can build on or push back on what others say.
What's said here stays here – please keep other people's comments confidential.
Phones on silent; feel free to help yourself to [refreshments] and take a break if you need one.
3. Warm-up questions (about 8 minutes)
Ease everyone in with something easy to answer. Go around the table so every voice is heard early.
Warm-up 1:(e.g. Tell us your first name and one thing you did this week related to [topic].)
Warm-up 2:(a light, general question about the topic area)
4. Key questions (about 40 minutes)
Ask these close to verbatim so every group hears the same prompt. Keep them open-ended, then use the probes only when an answer is thin or a reason is worth surfacing. Replace the examples below with your own research questions.
Key question 1:(e.g. When you think about [topic], what stands out most?)
Example prompt: "Walk me through the last time you [did the thing]. What was that like?"
Probes: Why is that? · Can you give a specific example? · Does anyone see it differently?
Key question 2:(your second core question)
Example prompt: "What works well about [X] today, and what gets in your way?"
Probes: What would you change? · How often does that come up? · Show of hands – who else has run into this?
Key question 3:(your third core question)
Example prompt: "If you could fix one thing about [topic] tomorrow, what would it be?"
Probes: What makes that the priority? · Who feels the same, and who doesn't? · What have you tried already?
Key question 4 (optional):(add or cut to fit your timing)
Probes: Say more about that. · What's an example? · How would that play out for you?
5. Wrap-up (about 8 minutes)
Pull the threads together and give people a last word. "Here's what I heard as the main points: [brief summary]. Did I get that right, and is there anything missing?"
Final question:(e.g. If you had one piece of advice for us on [topic], what would it be?)
Ask whether anyone has a final comment or question before you close.
6. Thank-you and close
"Thank you – this was genuinely useful. Your input goes directly into [what happens next]. [Details on any incentive, follow-up, or how to reach us.]"
Stop the recording and confirm the file saved before anyone leaves.
Jot down quick impressions while they're fresh, then transcribe the recording for coding and analysis.
Moderator:Date:
How to use it
- 1
Fill in the bracketed placeholders (study name, topic, timing) and swap the example key questions for your own research questions, keeping them open-ended.
- 2
Set your recording plan: decide how you will capture audio or video, and adapt the consent and ground-rules blocks to the rules that apply to your participants and location.
- 3
Run the session in order – introduction and consent, ground rules, warm-up, key questions with probes, wrap-up, thank-you – keeping a light eye on the per-section timing.
- 4
Record the discussion, then transcribe the audio into a speaker-labeled text transcript. See how to transcribe a focus group for the workflow.
- 5
Code and theme the transcript to pull findings and verbatim quotes, following how to analyze interview transcripts.
Recorded it? Transcribe it here
Drop in the recording for a speaker-labeled, timestamped draft in minutes. Your first 60 minutes are free, no card.
More templates
- Interview Recording ChecklistA pre-record run-through for gear, room, consent, and levels, so your audio starts clean.
- Interview release form templateA starter fill-in consent form for journalists, researchers, oral historians, and podcasters: get permission to record and to use the interview, transcript, and quotes before you hit record.
- Podcast Show Notes TemplateA copy-paste outline for episode pages: guest bio, summary, timestamped chapters, quotes, links, and a subscribe CTA.
- Recording Consent Form TemplateA general consent form for recording and transcribing calls, meetings, and research sessions – fill it in, get a signature, keep it on file.
- Interview transcript templateA ready format for interview transcripts – a header, speaker labels, timestamps, and tags for the messy moments – with a worked sample you can copy.
Frequently asked questions
How long should a focus group discussion guide be?
For a 60-to-90-minute session, plan roughly 6 to 10 main questions across four or five sections. Fewer, open questions with good probes usually beat a long list. Leave time for the warm-up and wrap-up, and mark a rough number of minutes next to each section so you can stay on schedule without watching the clock.
What is the difference between a discussion guide and a script?
A script fixes every word; a guide fixes the topics, their order, and the timing while leaving room to follow unexpected threads. Read the key questions close to verbatim so every group hears the same prompt, but treat the probes as optional follow-ups you use only when a point needs opening up.
Do I need consent to record a focus group?
Recording-consent rules vary by jurisdiction, and some places require every participant to agree before anyone records. The safe habit is to tell the room a recording is being made, say how it will be used and stored, and get spoken or written agreement on the recording before questions begin. This template is a starting point, not legal advice; check the rules that apply to your location and participants.
How do I turn the recording into something I can analyze?
Save the audio or video, then transcribe it into text you can read, code, and quote. A speaker-labeled transcript lets you tell participants apart and pull verbatim quotes. See [how to transcribe a focus group](/how-to/how-to-transcribe-a-focus-group), then [how to analyze interview transcripts](/how-to/how-to-analyze-interview-transcripts) for coding and theming the text.
How many probes should I write per question?
Two or three per key question is plenty. Probes are there to deepen a thin answer or surface reasoning behind a quick reaction, not to be asked every time. Write them as short prompts like "Why is that?" or "Can you give an example?" and skip them whenever the group is already covering the ground on its own.
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