Coffee, fruit juice and biscuits are available. I use this time to talk briefly with people as they arrive. I also memorise their names. I have to make a special effort to do this. This initial contact also gives the panel members a chance to ask any questions they have about the process or the purpose.
Some people feel anxious until they have made a connection with at least one other person.
It is often useful, after you have introduced yourself to someone, to introduce them to someone else. Creating a climate During the discussions, differences are likely to arise. The climate of the whole focus group depends a lot on how these are dealt with. I believe this is so important that I try to do several different things to encourage the expression of differences. For the moment, don't worry about whether it is the same as, or different to, anyone else's.