What are the most effective ways to test a modified menu with a focus group?

2 Select your participants

The next step is to select your participants for the focus group. You want to choose people who are representative of your target market and who have experience with your current menu. You also want to avoid people who have a personal or professional relationship with you or your staff, as they may be biased or influenced by other factors. Ideally, you should have between six and twelve participants per focus group, depending on the complexity and length of your discussion. You can recruit participants through various channels, such as social media, email, flyers, or referrals. You should also offer some incentives, such as free samples, coupons, or gift cards, to encourage participation and engagement.

3 Prepare your questions

Once you have your participants, you need to prepare your questions for the focus group. You want to design questions that are open-ended, clear, relevant, and unbiased. Open-ended questions allow participants to express their opinions and feelings in their own words, rather than choosing from predefined options. Clear questions avoid confusion and ambiguity, and use simple and familiar language. Relevant questions focus on the aspects of your modified menu that you want to test, and avoid unnecessary or unrelated topics. Unbiased questions avoid leading or suggestive wording, and allow participants to answer honestly and freely. You should also prepare some follow-up or probing questions, to explore the reasons behind the participants' responses and to elicit more details and examples.

4 Conduct your focus group

The next step is to conduct your focus group in a suitable setting. You want to choose a location that is convenient, comfortable, and conducive to discussion. You also want to provide some equipment, such as audio or video recorders, note pads, pens, and flip charts, to capture and document the feedback. You should also have a moderator, who is a person who leads the discussion, asks the questions, and manages the group dynamics. The moderator should be neutral, friendly, and professional, and should encourage participation, interaction, and respect among the participants. The moderator should also introduce the purpose and rules of the focus group, explain the format and duration of the discussion, and thank the participants for their time and input.

5 Analyze your results

The final step is to analyze your results from the focus group. You want to review the recordings, notes, and charts from the discussion, and identify the main themes, patterns, and insights that emerge. You also want to compare and contrast the feedback from different participants, and look for any similarities or differences. You should also quantify and measure the feedback, using scales, ratings, or rankings, to assess the level of satisfaction, preference, or acceptance of your modified menu. You should also evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of your modified menu, and identify any areas for improvement or adjustment. You should also summarize and report your findings, using charts, graphs, or tables, to present your results in a clear and concise way.