Spring 2015: Alaska veterans invited to participate in focus groups
by Michelle Saport |
The Institute of Social and Economic Research is looking for veterans 18 to 40 years of age to volunteer for a 90-minute focus group about benefits for Alaska veterans.
What is a focus group? A focus group is a discussion with six to 10 people who have similar experiences. A moderator will lead the discussion and pose questions to the group.
Why are you doing these focus groups? The goals of the focus groups are to better understand the needs of Alaska veterans, current resources available to veterans, unmet needs or service gaps, as well as potential solutions to these challenges. We will be conducting focus groups with veterans who are current residents of Alaska.
Who is doing the focus groups? A research team from the Institute of Social and Economic Research at the University of Alaska Anchorage will be conducting the groups. The groups are part of the Alaska Veterans Needs Assessment and are sponsored by the Alaska Office of Veterans Affairs.
Where are the focus groups being held? They will be held in Anchorage. The groups will be held at the UAA Diplomacy Building. This is a university location that is convenient and easily accessible. Specific location information will be given to registered focus group participants only.
What kind of questions will be asked during the group? We will ask questions about your experiences with benefits and services available to veterans, satisfaction with services, any challenges or difficulties accessing or obtaining benefits or services, and services you needed but did not receive. Participation in the focus group is voluntary, and you do not have to answer any questions you don't want to or that make you feel uncomfortable.
During the group discussion, we will only use your first name. We will keep any information you share confidential and will not use your name or other identifying information in our reports. We will also ask other focus group participants not to share anything that was discussed during the group.
Will I receive anything for participating in a focus group? Registered participants will receive a $25 gift card as a token of our appreciation. Light refreshments will also be available during the focus group sessions.
How do I register to participate? Please contact the Institute of Social and Economic Research focus group team at (907) 786-5432 or uaa_AlaskaVeteransSurvey@uaa.alaska.edu. You will be asked a few questions to confirm you meet the eligibility requirements to participate in the focus group. Space is limited to a few people per focus group, so register now!
How can I get more information on the Alaska Veterans Needs Assessment Project? You can contact Rosyland Frazier at (907) 786-5432 or uaa_AlaskaVeteransSurvey@uaa.alaska.edu. If you have any questions about your rights as a research participant, please contact Sharilyn Mumaw, research compliance officer, at (907) 786-1099 or simumaw@uaa.alaska.edu.
"Spring 2015: Alaska veterans invited to participate in focus groups" is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.