Focus Groups: A Facilitator's Primer by Paul Cooper, CPF

Many of the skills that make you successful as a meeting facilitator can also help you thrive as a focus group moderator. Although they’re similar, the two disciplines are unique, so professionals would be wise to approach each type of session with a design and methods that are appropriate to the task. This interactive online workshop will explore the differences and similarities between focus group moderation and meeting facilitation, share basic focus group concepts, and provide direction for facilitators hoping to add qualitative research to their portfolio of services.

Paul Cooper, CPF, has been facilitating meetings and consulting on strategic planning for 18 years; he is certified to administer the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, and is a trained focus group moderator. In each of his areas of expertise, organizations benefit from Paul’s ability to listen, motivate, and focus on plans that bring results. He has great range, working comfortably with advocacy groups, businesses, non-profits, government, and associations. And clients rave that his sessions are creative, insightful, and fun.

Paul began his career as a political consultant, working on Capitol Hill, serving on the campaign staff of two very unsuccessful presidential candidates, and facilitating a long-running peer support group. A native of Staten Island, NY, Paul holds a degree from Franklin and Marshall College and has forgotten most of the sign language he learned at Gallaudet University.