Focus group

15th February 2013
The video above includes a class discussion which deals with a wide range of magazines with a variety of different questions being discussed on each. As we carried out the focus group as a class it enabled us to get our own primary research when getting detailed information about things that would be effective and successful when producing our magazines and even discussing what doesn't look very professional leading us to get critical but beneficial feedback. The focus group was an effective research method as we were able to ask the group relevant questions that could be linked to our own magazines leading us individually to get feedback.
Furthermore the whole purpose of carrying out the focus group was as it involved being interactive instead of doing independent research on pro's and con's of magazines, therefore leading us to get relevant answers and specific answers to certain questions asked. Many advantages of carrying out the focus group included:

• Results can be easier to understand than complicated statistical data.

• We were able to get information from non-verbal responses, such as facial expressions or body language.

• The process was time consuming as the information that was provided was quicker than if people were interviewed separately.­

However the main points that I was able to use to my advantage when I asked my own individual questions consisted of knowing exactly what I should and shouldn't go with my female model putting it all down to mise-en-scene whether not using a particular outfit or colours, certain poses, body language, hair, make-up etc. Similarly as I am aware from my past magazine that I produced for GCSE I ensured that I asked questions related to the front cover as I knew that this was the page I find hardest to make in comparison to the contents or double page spread. Therefore by asking questions about the font I was able to learn and interpret what type of font and colours would be successful in order to attract my target audience effectively. Lastly by asking a suitable and appropriate price range that my target audience would be satisfied paying was a really beneficial question to ask as the participants involved within my focus group consisted of the age ranges that I am planning to aim my magazine at.To conclude I believe that by carrying out the focus group was an effective type of research when going into depth about what I need to do in order to meet my target audience's needs and wants as I got valid, relevant and reliable feedback that was all appropriate to the magazine I am aiming to finally produce.