Questions We Will Ask in the Focus Group


  1. Describe your experiences taking part in the writing group this semester. In addition, was this different from other writing groups that you’ve taken part in? If so, how was it different? If not, how is this not different?
  2. What did you like best about the writing group?
  3. What would you like to change about the writing group?
  4. Everyone has been given a sheet of paper with three tables. Each table has up to six possible activities. We’d like you to please rank these activities in the order of the amount of time you spend on each (1 designates very rarely allocated time to… and 5 designates very frequently allocated time to…[activity]). The responsibilities we’ve chosen are: teaching, researching, service responsibilities, administrative tasks, or other. If there is a category we haven’t included, please describe what it is.
  5. What is your experience of the ways in which research and research activities are prioritized in your department?
  6. How supported do you feel concerning your ability to spend time on research activities?
  7. Provide an example/suggestion of the kind of support you would like to have and from whom.
  8. In what ways, if at all, do you think gender affects the way you allocate your time throughout the school year?
  9. Were there any benefits to the writing group beyond simply providing time for writing?
  10. Is there anything we forgot to ask about the following topics: female faculty writing groups, or, research productivity among female faculty?             


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