XXXVI NWOS Focus Group Topic Guide

XXXVI. NWOS Topic Guide
IN THE HALLWAY, A SIGN THAT SAYS:
 Landowner Focus Groups [and room name or directions]
ON FLIP CHART IN THE ROOM:
 Welcome to the landowner focus group. Moderator: .
AT EACH SEAT:


Focus group guidelines sheet

AT MODERATOR’S SEAT:





Clock
Highlighters – yellow and pink
Handouts
Coffee

IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TABLE:
 Audio recorders
 Napkins

AS THEY SIT DOWN, ASK THEM TO:


Fill out the name tents, front and back. Just your first name – whatever you want to be
called.
 Read and sign the disclosure statement and return it to .

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A. OVERVIEW
WELCOME
Good [morning/afternoon/evening]. My name is and I will be the
moderator for today’s discussion. The one thing you all have in common is that you are
landowners in [state]. And over the next two hours, that is what we will be talking about – your
land and more precisely, the part of your land that is covered by trees.
AGENDA
During this time, you will be doing several things:



Participating in group discussion; and
Reviewing some materials.

This should be a free-flowing conversation. There are no wrong answers; we want to hear your
opinions.
MODERATOR INTRODUCTION
I am a researcher from the USDA Forest Service and I am here to facilitate the discussion and
listen to your answers.
I will apologize upfront that at times you may get frustrated with me. During our discussion, you
can ask me any questions that you want, but it is highly unlikely that I will answer them. But
after the group discussion is over, I will be happy to answer any questions that I can.
I have a series of questions that I need to cover, so at times I may need to ask someone to wrapup their thoughts and we’ll have to move on.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to say thank you for coming. We really appreciate you taking time out of your
schedules to be with us today.
DISCLOSURES
You will notice that there are two audio recorders on the table. I am sure there will be many
interesting things said here today and we want to make sure we can capture all of it. These
recordings are strictly for research purposes, they will not go beyond the research team.
Individual statements will never be attributed to specific individuals, but we may say that
landowners in [state] said x.
INTRODUCE BACK TABLE
At the back table is whom many of you have already met. S/he
[they] will be observing today’s discussion. If you need anything to make you more comfortable,
please let one of us know.

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PERMISSIONS
The bathrooms are [give directions] and there is food on the back table. At anytime, please feel
free to use the facilities and to grab some food or drink.
SAFETY
For your safety, please note that the exits are located [give locations]. In case of a [identify
potential emergencies and related instructions].
GUIDELINES
To help facilitate today’s discussion, here are a few guidelines:
HAVE THE FOLLOWING AS A PRINT OUT AT EACH PARTICIPANT’S SEAT










Talk one at a time
Talk in a loud, clear voice
Avoid side conversations
Work for “equal air time” so no one talks too much or too little
When someone else says something, I would like to know who else agrees with it and
who has something different to add
Say what you believe, whether or not anyone else agrees with you
Only one person up or out of the room at a time
Remember, there are no wrong answers, we want your opinion
And finally, if you have a cell phone, please turn it off or set it to vibrate

B. PARTICIPANT INTRODUCTIONS
To start, I would like to go around the room and have each of you tell us:
WRITE THE FOLLOWING ON A FLIP CHART



Your name
Describe the land that you own
o Where it is located (location)
o How big it is (# of acres)
o What percentage is covered by trees (% trees)
o How long you have owned it (tenure)
o [Something that is special to you about it]

[The rest of the focus group time is allotted to going over sections of the survey to see how
landowners respond. Below are the possible sections of the National Woodland Owner Survey Long
Form available to go through in the focus groups. Sections of the Urban Survey, Corporate Survey,
Science Modules, Public Survey, or state-specific questions can also be substituted in the below
sections. Choose a subset of the below topics or a subset of the other forms to go over in more detail
with focus groups. Focus groups will not go over the allotted time.]
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C. INSTRUCTIONS AND ACREAGE
I am handing out a piece of paper. It should say “Instructions and Acreage” on the top of it.
Please read through it and use one of the pens to answer the questions. If there is a word or
phrase that is confusing or you do not like, use the highlighter to indicate it.
PASS OUT SHEET A. TIME HOW LONG IT TAKES.

Did anybody highlight anything? What? [Why?]
Did the definition of woodland and rangeland make sense to everyone?
What do these terms mean to you?
What words do you use to describe your land?
Were you able to easily apply these definitions to your land?
Please turn over the sheet and place it in front of you.

D. OWNERSHIP BASICS
I am handing out a piece of paper. It should say “Instructions and Acreage” on the top of it.
Please read through it and use one of the pens to answer the questions. If there is a word or
phrase that is confusing or you do not like, use the highlighter to indicate it.
PASS OUT SHEET A. TIME HOW LONG IT TAKES.

Did anybody highlight anything? What? [Why?]
Did the definition of woodland and rangeland make sense to everyone?
What do these terms mean to you?
What words do you use to describe your land?
Were you able to easily apply these definitions to your land?
Please turn over the sheet and place it in front of you.

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E. REASONS FOR OWNING
What are the main reasons that you own your wooded land?
[Can you tell me more about that?]
[What do you mean by ___?]
[What else?]
I am handing out another piece of paper. Again, answer the questions and highlight any words
or phrases that are confusing or you do not like.
PASS OUT SHEET B. TIME HOW LONG IT TAKES.
Did anybody highlight anything? What? [Why?]
Was it difficult to answer?
Did we miss any reasons for owning on the list?

F. HISTORY OF WOODED LAND
I am handing out another piece of paper. Again, answer the questions and highlight any words
or phrases that are confusing or you do not like.
PASS OUT SHEET X. TIME HOW LONG IT TAKES.
Did anybody highlight anything? What? [Why?]
Was it difficult to answer?
What on here was confusing?

G. USES OF WOODED LAND
I am handing out another piece of paper. Again, answer the questions and highlight any words
or phrases that are confusing or you do not like.
PASS OUT SHEET X. TIME HOW LONG IT TAKES.
Did anybody highlight anything? What? [Why?]
Was it difficult to answer?
What on here was confusing?

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H. Recreation
I am handing out another piece of paper. Again, answer the questions and highlight any words
or phrases that are confusing or you do not like.
PASS OUT SHEET X. TIME HOW LONG IT TAKES.
Did anybody highlight anything? What? [Why?]
Was it difficult to answer?
What on here was confusing?

I. SOURCES OF INFORMATION
I am handing out another piece of paper. Again, answer the questions and highlight any words
or phrases that are confusing or you do not like.
PASS OUT SHEET X. TIME HOW LONG IT TAKES.
Did anybody highlight anything? What? [Why?]
Was it difficult to answer?
What on here was confusing?

J. CONCERNS
I am handing out another piece of paper. Again, answer the questions and highlight any words
or phrases that are confusing or you do not like.
PASS OUT SHEET L. TIME HOW LONG IT TAKES.

What on here was confusing?
Was it difficult to answer?

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K. FUTURE
I am handing out another piece of paper. Again, answer the questions and highlight any words
or phrases that are confusing or you do not like.
PASS OUT SHEET N. TIME HOW LONG IT TAKES.

What on here was confusing?
Was it difficult to answer?

L. DEMOGRAPHICS
I am handing out another piece of paper. Again, answer the questions and highlight any words
or phrases that are confusing or you do not like.
PASS OUT SHEET O. TIME HOW LONG IT TAKES.

What on here was confusing?

M. CLOSING
Thank you all very much for your time. Before we end, does anyone have any other comments
you would like to make?
Thank you and have a good [morning/afternoon/night]!

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