We're recruiting for Mumsnet pre-election focus groups: would you like to take part?

[GeraldineMumsnet]

Would you like to be involved in three pre-election Mumsnet focus groups we're co-organising?

We're working with the Times and a polling organisation to find out what issues are important to you, which politicians you like / loathe and how likely you are to actually cast your vote.

We're planning on running three focus groups (one at MNHQ and the other two online) and you would need to be able to take part in all three.

If you're selected and take part in all three groups you will receive £100. Travel expenses will be paid for the London group, (up to £15 for those in London and up to £100 for second-class rail travel for those coming to join in from outside London).

1. The first focus group would involve coming to Mumsnet Towers in Kentish Town, London on Tuesday 23 March between 12.15pm and 2pm. We'll provide a light lunch, but we're really sorry we can't accommodate babies/children as we simply don't have the space or facilities.

2. The second focus group is online - so you would just be logging in from home (we'll send you a link) and will take place on Tues 20 April from 11.30am-1pm.

3. The third focus group is also online and will be on Tues 4 May from 11.30am-1pm.

We're looking for a good cross-section of Mumsnetters. The polling organisation has devised the questions.

The comments made during the focus groups will be used by the Times for articles in the lead-up to the general election - please note your real first name may be used and they will want to use a picture of you.

All data from this survey is confidential - participants will be screened by responses to the questions and your MN or real name will not be linked to your responses.

Sorry, but this project is only open to UK residents who are eligible to vote in the upcoming general election.

So if you're interested, and you can make all three focus groups, please click here.

Thanks,
MNHQ

ford managed to do their review stuff without meeting any of us in person. they asked us to take our own photo of ourselves (so you could make sure you didn't look too bad) and video ourselves (again, meaning you could delete anything totally dreadful) and just delivered the cars to us. no fuss no bother. AND gave us £100, oh AND a fortnum and mason christmas pudding

you would think that a focus group formed of members of an online forum could be conducted entirely online (with the option of sending in photos etc).

It must be me.......but things have changed a lot round here recently. Not in a good way either

Joins whomoved with coffee and biscuit.

Too right.

Just adding my voice to the 'would have loved to taken part but I work, why oh why could this not be an evening event?' chorus. Just silly to time this so most mums can't attend.

Brings gin and tonics and sits with Quint and whomoved.

How changed wmmc?

Is it not just cos you is working now and not here so much like?

don't think a focus group is mn death knell.it is a further development of the site and the mn brand.esp given the media interest and frequent citing of mn as a political barometer

just a shame it is restricted participation criteria

I would love to! It's not a work day! I'm only 1.5 hrs from London. Scottish,working class, non Boden still wondering who Boden are wearing, ft mummy, part time worker, childcare voucher user, child tax credit.

Only one snag I have Jo jingles at 11.45 in gt bentley so i'll have to skip out for wee while during session.

Can do, survey done

Can I also just point out that qualitative research (which is what this is purporting to do, with all its talk of 'focus groups') is, by its nature, not truly representative. It deals with small numbers of people - usually 8 in a group - so cannot provide responses that are in any way statistically significant.

However, any qualitative research project will include a number of groups, ideally no fewer than 4, better if around 8-12. And the idea is that you build in different facets of the audience you wish to talk to, so that it reflects different characteristics.

Therefore, in this instance, you would probably look to recruit a minimum of 4 groups:

1 x those intending to vote Labour
1 x those intending to vote Conservative
1 x those intending to vote LibDem
1 x those who are floating voters

And then you'd probably do two of each of those, in different areas - so you might do a North/South split (the most common - to reflect people who live in other parts of the country and not just London), or you might do a rural/urban split (could be very important in politics).

You would also probably be wise to include a group of 2 of people who intend to vote for some of the smaller parties.

But what we have here is one group - which will be reconvened three times.

The talk of 'polling' is nonsense, as there will be no statistics forthcoming from these groups.

Just the view of 8 or so women who happen to be available on certain days.

As long as everyone is clear that this is just a PR jolly, then fair enough. I'll stop whingeing (honest ) - but I am prepared to put money on it that in the Times it will be put forward as if it was a piece of market research.

It's ironic, innit? The gap between how MNers are meant to be, acc to PR company's efforts (intelligent/not easily spun to/incisive) and how these things are spun to MNers (we'll tell them it's a focus group, they'll love that, and we get a few mentions in the Times, lovely) - it's quite striking!

MNHQ is trying to tout MN as home of thinking women, yet repeatedly, for years now, misrepresenting basic stuff like this in a bid for publicity of one sort or another - and being repeatedly seen through and called on it.

You need to up your game a little bit!

PMSL fio!

No I just think, oh here we go again - have they not learned they will be seen through each and every time?! Bo-ring

Typed out massive post to Leningrad
Dunno, can't be fashed with it all
Every time it seems like MN might be fun again, I am reminded of how much we are just the monkeys here.

Lenin - I'm angry about misrepresentation of both market research and MNetters. I have no objection to selling MN, raising its profile, etc.

But this is my industry we're talking about, which is why I am exercising my phlegm.

Patronised, not tricked (well, I suspect the DM saga was pretty tricksy...)

MNHQ - a practical question: by when will you be letting people know that they've been selected?

Sorry if this has been covered, but it's not in the OP and I can't spend time on reading 12 pages to find it elsewhere, I'm afraid. Thanks.

Also, will you reserve the option of unselecting them? In which case, when will you let them know?