Focus group interviews: a tool for program evaluation in school library education

Abstract

Program evaluations are routinely conducted in most educational institutions. This article reports the use of focus groups in the evaluation of a program of school library education at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada. The program evaluation began with a self-study conducted by the program coordinator. In order to gain information from the groups served by the program, focus group interviews were organized by a Ministry of Education consultant. From the analysis of the focus group interview data, six themes emerged: taking a leadership role, developing the school library program, managing the program, coping with technology, sequencing of learning, and modelling and mentoring. The themes were found to be generally consistent with the content and pedagogy of the current program. The focus group methodology, in addition to providing valuable evaluation data, was found to be an effective means of communicating with practitioners in the field about the program.