Session Title: SSC Focus Groups

Focus Group Purpose: To obtain systematic feedback on the core Safety and Security training modules in
order to include staff recommendations into the changes that will be made to the training in the fall/winter
along with OIG and External Advisory Council recommendations
Methods/Instructions:
Type of focus group: single category of participant
# of groups: 2, split SSCs into 2 groups; focus groups should not be more than 10-11 people
Division of groups: divide up the region to ensure equal mix of Eastern/Central Europe & Asia for EMA;
Pacific/Caribbean islands & Latin America for IAP; regional Africa in each group for Africa
Moderators:
o 1 PCSSO for each group
o Job: ask the questions; let them talk
o Silence is ok; dont jump in
o Ask follow-up questions to clarify or illicit explanations
o Limit Why questions; try not to ask them
o Do not give your personal opinion, even if they ask. Say Im here to get your opinion today
Note takers:
o RSA for 1 group, 1 PCSSO for the other
o As much as possible, capture what is said verbatim as they are speaking; do not summarize
after they stop talkingyou are the voice of the participants
o Take notes of any body language and other non verbal communication
o Use whatever is fastest for you: computer or hand written notes
o Use abbreviations
o Take photos of the final lists
o Type up the complete session immediately after the focus group
Questions should not change between the focus groups
Seating:
o Talkative SSCs should be seated next to the moderator
o Shy SSCs should be seated directly across from the moderator
Total Time: 1.5 hours
Preparation Before the Training
Create 2 sets of flip charts, one for each group.
o Introductory Questions: 1 page each group: 2 columns on the page. Top of the left column
write 1st Time and on the top of the right column write 2nd Time
o Key Questions: 1 set for each group. Set is the following, 1 flip chart page each:
Personal Security: universal skill is RADARbeing aware of your surroundings and
reducing risk
Sexual Assault Awareness: universal skill is Sex signalsability to recognize & avoid
local cultural signals for sex & relationships
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Sexual Assault Impact, Reporting & Response: universal skill is reporting a crime or
sexual assault to PC and PC standards for response/support
BIT: universal skill is intervening as a bystander to prevent a sexual assault or sexual
harassment against another PCV

Materials:
Each focus group at a separate table
2 Flip charts (1 per group)
2 sets of flip chart pages for each global core module with the universal skill learned in the module
2 Markers for each group
2 sets of Challenge Cards: 3x5 cards with challenges; 12 cards each group (made at HQ, in Focus Group
packet)
2 sets of Topics Cards: 3x5 cards with 11 topic areas (made at HQ, in Focus Group packet)
2 AVS Control Group Comparison Reports (in Focus Group Packet)
Pre-requisites:
SSC should have delivered the modules or seen the modules delivered at their post at least 1 time
Post must have delivered the modules at least once since November 2011

Session Title: SSC Focus Group

Date/ Time:

Time: 1.5 hours

Question Type & Purpose

Format

Opening: easy question on facts

Introductory: introduces the topic, gets
them thinking about the topic
Transition: moves to the key questions &
gets some opinions
Key: core questions of the research

Opening
Questions
10 mins

Time
Alloted

Group answer

10

Group answer; facilitator

writes on flip chart
Group ranks challenges
listed on 3x5 card
Group answer with visual
aids

10

Ending: summary or reflection

Total Minutes

Time

Facilitator(s):
PCSSOs and RSA

15
50
5
90

Methods

Materials

Explain to group:
Safety and Security will be making changes to the PST training
beginning the fall based on the OIG evaluation and recommendations
from the External Advisory Council. We want to include changes
based on your recommendations.
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This focus group will be done with the SSCs in each region and we will
be asking a series of questions. You should answer the questions
based on your experience and feel free to react to or add on to
someone elses answer.
The questions will start off easy and move to key questions as we go
along. Lets get started

Introductory
Questions
10 mins

Ask:
1.
How many times have the 4 Safety and Security standardized
global core training modules been delivered at your post?
2.
Who tends to deliver these trainings?
Ask:
1. Think back to the first time you or your post delivered these
sessions. What is the first word that comes to mind to
describe delivering those trainings for the first time?
Write:
Write their answers on the flip chart under the 1st time column
Ask:
2.

1 flip chart per group;

Divide into 2 columns:
1st time
2nd time

If your post has delivered the training more than once, how
were your perceptions of sessions different from the first
time?

Write:
Write their answers on the flip chart under 2nd time column
Note:
If there is a change in perception say that to the group
Note taker:
Take a photo of the flip chart when its done or bring the chart back
to HQ
Transition
Questions

Pass out the AVS data report showing the control group and
treatment group analysis

15 mins

Explain to group:
This 2012 AVS data shows that PCVs feel the standardized safety and
security trainings are more effective than PCVs who received the older
training. PCVs who received these standardized modules said the
training was more effective in teaching them about the tactics used
by assailants, reporting a crime to Peace Corps, how Peace Corps
responds and supports PCVs.

Challenge Cards: 3x5

cards with challenges
printed on them

So we are doing something right. But we also know there have been
some challenges with this training and there will be new challenges
with the new policies & procedures.
Pass out the Challenge Cards
Explain:
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As a group, I want you to rank the challenges and concerns printed on

the cards in order of greatest to smallest challenge or concern. This
means you must agree as a group. When there is a sentence with a
blank, I want each of you to tell me the answer based on your
experience.
Note Taker:
The group must come to consensus on the challenges, but this will
generate a great deal of discussion about the challenges at each post.
Make sure you capture that discussion in your notes.
When they have arranged them, ask:
Is there a challenge/concern missing?
ONLY 1, they must agree on 1then have them place it in the
ranking.
Challenge Cards:
i.
Sessions ran long because (fill in blank)
ii.
Not enough time in PST for this and other new training
packages
iii.
Trainees say the sessions are repetitive
iv.
PCVs believe sexual assault is the most common crime after
the sessions
v.
Sessions make PCVs uncomfortable because (fill in blank)
vi.
The script does not sound like me or other trainers
vii.
Staff are uncomfortable with the subject matter
viii.
We dont understand how the 4 core modules fit with the 11
topic areas
ix.
We dont understand how the 11 topic areas fit with other
training topics
x.
Some staff at post want to change the trainings/dont
understand why they are standardized
xi.
4 modules are not culturally specific
xii.
Facilitators guide gives incomplete or conflicting information
xiii.
BLANK CARD: write the missing challenge here
Key
Questions
50 mins

Explain:
Here are the 4 modules and the universal skill we ask all PCVs to have
when they finish each module [show one module on each flip chart
paper with the skill]:
1.
Personal Security:: RADARbeing aware of your
surroundings and reducing risk
2.
Sexual Assault Awareness::Sex signalsability to
recognize & avoid local cultural signals for sex & relationships
3.
Sexual Assault Impact, Reporting &
Response::Reporting an assault to PC and PC standards for
response/support
4.
BIT::Intervening as a bystander to prevent a sexual
assault or sexual harassment against another PCV
Explain:
All PCVs should have these universal skills across all posts. Here are
the 11 topic areas [have cards with 11 topic areas].

8 pre-made flipcharts;
4 for each group
each with 1 of the
core modules on it
and the universal skill
PCVs gain from the
module
2 sets of 11 topic area
cards
Ranked list of
challenges

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Keeping in mind the challenges you ranked:

Ask:
1. Where do the 11 topic areas overlap with the 4 core modules
a. And how are these overlaps repetitive?
b. What is the best way to make them merge together
& support each other so they do not repeat the same
information
2. How could the 11 topic areas be used to provide culturally
specific knowledge to support the core modules?
a. If needed/helpful have them sequence the 11 topic
areas with the 4 global core trainings
3. What gaps in content do we have in the global core and the
11 topics
4. What are some ways to address the reason/s why PCVs are
uncomfortable
5. What are some ways to address the reasons why the sessions
run long or there isnt enough time in PST?
6. How can we make the staff more comfortable with the
subject matter?
7. What additional guidance would help you deliver the training
Ending
Question
5 mins

The revised training will not be ready until March 2014. What
materials can we provide to you before September to help train PCVs
in the new reporting policies and procedures.

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