http://tc.eserver.org/authors/Ede,_Meghan_R. A bibliography of works by Ede, Meghan R. in the field of technical communication. en-us Copyright (c) 2005-08 by the EServer. All rights reserved. tclib-editorial@eserver.org (TC Library Editorial Board) webmaster@eserver.org (Geoffrey Sauer) http://tc.eserver.org/images/newlogo.gif http://tc.eserver.org/dir/Ede,_Meghan_R. http://tc.eserver.org/23766.html http://tc.eserver.org/23766.html Focus groups are a good way to learn how people approach tasks and to get an overview of work that spans hours or days or longer periods. Focus groups can be a great way to learn about the work that occurs 'between' or 'around' the tools we build. http://tc.eserver.org/20157.html http://tc.eserver.org/20157.html Tips from Sun, based on usability studies, to improve the design of Web pages. Topics cover writing style (less is more), navigation, and testing techniques. http://tc.eserver.org/11823.html http://tc.eserver.org/11823.html My definition of focus groups is very broad. I consider focus groups to occur whenever a group of people are invited to participate in a moderated discussion on a specific topic. I usually use focus groups very early in the design, to better understand potential users of a product or service. This differentiates usability focus groups from marketing focus groups, which often seek to learn reactions to a finished product. Focus groups differ from usability studies in that the participants are not asked to use a product. They differ from participatory design sessions because the participants are not asked to contribute or comment on design ideas. In a focus group, all I want participants to do is talk.