Using faculty focus groups to launch a scholarly communication program

摘要

Purpose - This paper aims to explore the benefits of using faculty focus groups as an early component of a scholarly communications program with suggestions for planning and conducting sessions, recruiting participants and analyzing outcomes. Design/methodology/approach - The paper is based on the authors' use of focus groups in the initial stages of organizing a scholarly communications program at Kansas State University. Findings - The paper finds that focus groups are an effective method to begin identifying scholarly communication issues that resonate with faculty on a particular campus. Focus groups can be helpful in targeting efforts to begin a scholarly communications program. Practical implications - Focus groups are effective in generating insights, opinions and attitudes and are low cost in terms of time and resource commitments. Originality/value - There is very little in the literature about using faculty focus groups to start a campus scholarly communication program. This paper provides practical and useful information that other libraries can use to incorporate this method into their planning.