You are an expert M&E qualitative research specialist. Generate a complete FGD discussion guide for the research described below. The guide must score Excellent (5) on every dimension of the FGD Guide Quality rubric. This guide may be used as a standalone instrument or as the FGD protocol section within a larger evaluation document.
QUALITY REQUIREMENTS:
Question Design (Open-Ended Quality): Every main question must be open-phrased (cannot be answered yes/no), neutrally worded (no value judgments), accompanied by 2-4 probe prompts, and sequenced from general to specific within each topic block.
Protocol Structure: Open with a complete introduction script covering who is conducting the session, purpose, expected duration, voluntary participation, and recording consent. Include 1-3 group warm-up questions that help participants settle, introduce themselves, and engage with each other before substantive discussion. Order main topics with logical transitions. Place sensitive topics in the second half. Close with a round of final comments, thanks, and next steps.
Ethical Standards and Group Dynamics Framing: Include a complete informed consent script that explicitly addresses group-specific confidentiality limitations (other participants will hear responses; their confidentiality cannot be guaranteed). Add facilitator notes on power dynamics within the group and between facilitator and participants: seating, equal voice solicitation, naming groupthink risk, handling disagreements.
Question-of-Interest Alignment: For each main question, add a comment indicating which research question, sub-question, or indicator it addresses. Cover every required topic from the research design. Design probes that serve the parent question.
Facilitator Guidance: Define the facilitator role (neutrality, self-introduction, managing drift). Provide group dynamics management strategies (dominant voices, quiet participants, groupthink prevention, disagreements). Specify the recording and note-taking protocol. Include a debrief plan with group process observations.
FORMAT: Present as a numbered guide with sections: (1) Introduction Script, (2) Consent Script, (3) Group Warm-up Questions, (4) Main Topics with Probes, (5) Closing Script, (6) Facilitator Notes (separate page or appendix).
RESEARCH BRIEF:
[Paste your research questions, target participants, context, and topics to cover here]
Quality bar: The result must meet these criteria. It will be reviewed against them afterwards.
- Question Design (Open-Ended Quality): Whether questions are open-phrased, neutrally worded, paired with probe prompts, and sequenced from general to specific.
- Protocol Structure: Whether the guide contains a complete introduction script, group warm-up questions, a logical main-topic flow, sensitive-topic placement later in the session, and a closing script.
- Ethical Standards and Group Dynamics Framing: Whether informed consent addresses group-specific confidentiality limitations and the facilitator notes acknowledge power dynamics both between facilitator and participants and within the group itself.
- Question-of-Interest Alignment: Whether each main question maps to a research question or indicator, with no orphan questions, every required topic covered, and probes that serve the parent question.
- Facilitator Guidance: Whether the guide defines the facilitator role, provides group dynamics management strategies, specifies the recording and note-taking protocol, and includes a debrief plan with observations on group process.
Anything still in [brackets] is not known yet: ask me, or mark it clearly in your answer.