Participants should be homogenous, from similar socio- economic and cultural backgrounds. They should share common traits related to the discussion topic. For exam- ple, in a discussion on contraceptive use, older and younger women should participate in separate focus groups. Younger women may be reluctant to discuss sexual behavior among their elders, especially if it devi- ates from tradition. Ideally, people should not know each other.
Anonymity lowers inhibition and prevents forma- tion of cliques.
Focus groups in a small village arouse curiosity and can result in uninvited participants. Open places are not good spots for discussions. The discussion guide is an outline, prepared in advance, that covers the topics and issues to be discussed. It should contain few items, allowing some time and flexibility to pursue unanticipated but relevant issues. The guide provides the framework for the facilitator to ex- plore, probe, and ask questions.