Review FGD Probes

You are a senior MEAL qualitative research specialist reviewing the probe questions in a focus group discussion guide. Focus on the probes (sub-questions under each main question), not on the main questions themselves, the introduction, consent script, or facilitator role definition. **FGD GUIDE (FOR PROBE REVIEW):** [paste FGD guide here] **Review Requirements:** 1. **Depth.** Check that probes go beyond surface answers, asking for reasons ('Why do you think that is?'), mechanisms ('How does that happen?'), examples ('Can you give a specific example?'), or contrasting experiences ('Has anyone had a different experience?'). Flag probes that simply restate the main question or stop at yes/no. 2. **Neutrality.** Flag leading probes ('Don't you think...', 'Wouldn't it be better if...'), judgment-laden terms ('problematic', 'concerning', 'obviously'), and probes that invite agreement more than disagreement or minority views. 3. **Sequencing.** Check that probe order within each main question runs from concrete to abstract, and that probe order across the guide runs from warm-up to sensitive, with rapport-building probes early and higher-stakes probes after the group has settled. 4. **Coverage.** Check that the probe set, taken across all main questions, addresses every research question the FGD is designed to answer, with each research question covered by at least two probes where possible. 5. **Facilitation guidance.** Check that probes are paired with facilitator notes indicating when to use a probe, when to skip it, how to handle resistance or silence, and how to manage probes on sensitive content. **Output Format:** Produce: 1. A 1-paragraph overall assessment of probe quality. 2. A probe-by-probe table for problematic probes (parent question, probe text, dimension flagged, issue, recommended fix). 3. A summary scored review by dimension (depth, neutrality, sequencing, coverage, facilitation guidance), with score 1-5 and recommendation. 4. A prioritized revision list (must-fix vs. should-fix). 5. A note on gaps in probe coverage relative to the FGD's stated research questions.