What is the typical length of a focus group session?

A focus group session is typically designed to gather qualitative data through discussions among a small group of participants, and the ideal length for such sessions is generally between one to two hours. This duration is effective because it allows enough time to cover the necessary topics and gather in-depth insights without overwhelming the participants or leading to fatigue, which can affect engagement and the quality of responses.

Focus groups are structured to facilitate conversation, allowing participants to express their thoughts and opinions; a session extending beyond two hours may lead to diminishing returns in the quality of discussion. Participants might become less attentive, resulting in a decline in the richness of the data collected.

While some contexts may allow for longer sessions, such extensive durations are not typical, as they can risk decreasing effectiveness. Instead, keeping the session within the one to two-hour range ensures a balance of thoroughness and participant engagement.