2.3 Facilitating focus groups Focus groups involve gathering information to help you understand more deeply what a selection of staff and Commissioners/Ombudspersons think about the extent to which gender equality is built into the systems and processes of your NHRI. A focus group is a small, facilitated group discussion. Participants are carefully selected and discussions are facilitated in a way that enables free exchange of thoughts and opinions. All information gathered is considered useful data. Focus groups are useful when you want to: • obtain detailed information • encourage participants to develop each other’s ideas and deepen the discussion • understand ‘insider’ experience, thoughts and feelings • ensure multiple ideas, thoughts and experiences to be expressed • be more time efficient than you would with individual interviews, and • educate the group, as discussions can highlight key points and perspectives not previously considered. Figure 22: Steps for administering a survey Step 1 Identify Decide Plan focus groups & focus group focus groups participants 54 Step 3 Step 2 method Step 5 Step 4 Write up Facilitate the the findings focus group/s