Why?
The method provides more nuanced knowledge and details of an area and issue.
Focus groups and interviews as a working environment methodology are useful as:
- Preparation for a workshop or a questionnaire survey
- Follow-up work after a review of a questionnaire survey ARK (Norwegian)
- Background for a risk assessment of reorganisation
- And as a method for acquiring deeper and more specific information about a topic.
What is included?
- The interviews can be on an individual or group basis (focus groups). One can choose whether the interviewees should be guaranteed anonymity or not be anonymous. How the information from the interviews will be used must be determined in advance.
- The focus groups can be composed homogeneously or heterogeneously. Groups of between 6-8 participants are recommended.
- Everyone who participates in the survey is in principle asked the same questions, but the interviewer will naturally follow up with more in-depth questions. After the round of interviews has been completed, the material will be reviewed to determine the developments and general trends – before writing a report.
- The report should form the basis for meetings at the unit, where the situation will be discussed, both the good and bad aspects of the working environment, and measures will be proposed for the improvement areas that have been identified.
Preparations at the unit
Safety delegates and possibly other employees should be represented in the working group that is planning the survey, monitoring the execution and discussing the results of the interviews. The Occupational Health Service Unit can provide assistance in the form of both guidance and facilitation.
Ordering
The unit manager is the orderer of the assignment. It is recommended to include this with the unit’s action plan for use of the Occupational Health Service Unit.
Contact
- Senior Adviser Kristine Moll?-Christensen
- Clinical Psychologist Benedicte Westin