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How to Limit a Live Group Chat (Focus Group) to Select Participants

Use this guide to restrict access to a Live Group Chat Activity (with or without video) to specific participants in Recollective.

Recollective supports live focus groups with (or without) video. You can run a focus group with a select group of participants by limiting the visibility or access of the Live Group Chat Activity to a select segment or selection of participants.

Option 1: Limiting visibility of a Live Group Chat Activity to a select Segment

Note: Step 1 will vary based on user role.

  • Analysts and Moderators can follow 1a

  • Analysts can also follow 1b

Option 1a: Create a Segment via Bulk Import (Spreadsheet)

  1. Prepare a spreadsheet (.xslx) for bulk import with the following format:

  2. Column 1 Header: Email Address or External ID

    • Column 1 Rows: Enter each participant's email address or External ID in a separate row.

  3. Column 2 Header: Enter the desired Segment name (Example: Focus Group - May 20).

    • Column 2 Rows: Place a 1 in the cell for each participant who should belong to that Segment.

  4. (Optional) Repeat the column format described above to define and assign participants to additional Segments in the same spreadsheet.

  5. Save the spreadsheet.

  6. Navigate to Study Admin menu > Add Participants > Bulk Import a Spreadsheet.

  7. Upload and import the spreadsheet.

  8. When prompted during import setup, define the segment column as New Segment.

More information on the Bulk Import process is available here..

Option 1b: Create a Segment via Site Administration

  1. Navigate to Site Administration > Segments.

  2. Select New Basic Segment.

  3. Name the Segment (Example: Focus Group - May 20).

  4. (Optional) Limit the visibility of the Segment to the relevant study. Limiting segment visibility to the relevant study is recommended when running multiple studies on the same site.

  5. Click Save.

  6. Assign participants to the Segment:

    • Navigate to Site Administration > Search Panelists.

    • Click a participant's name to edit their profile.

    • Use the Basic Segments dropdown menu to assign the participant to the relevant Segment.

    • Click Save.

Step 2: Create a Live Group Chat Activity Limited to a Segment

  1. Navigate to the Activities tab within the Study.

  2. Click Add Activity.

  3. Enter the Activity Name (this name will be visible to participants).

  4. Select Live Group Chat as the activity type.

  5. Set the desired Start Date, Start Time, and Duration.

  6. (Optional) Select Video Chat. If unchecked, the Live Group Chat Activity defaults to a text-only live chat.

  7. Under the Activity Access section, choose Only select segments.

    Activity Access options with Only select segments highlighted

  8. Select the desired segment(s) from the dropdown menu.

  9. Configure the remaining activity settings as required.

  10. (Optional) Add a description for participants to read before they join.

  11. Click Save.

Option 2: Limit Live Group Chat Visibility by Individual Participants

You can assign a Live Group Chat Activity directly to specific participants without creating a segment first.

A participant will only appear in the Only select participants menu if they meet one of the following conditions:

  • They have Joined the study.

  • They have been Invited to join the study.

  • They have been Scheduled an invite for the study.

Steps to Limit Access by Participant

  1. Navigate to the Activities tab within the Study.

  2. Click Add Activity.

  3. Enter the Activity Name (this name will be visible to participants).

  4. Select Live Group Chat as the activity type.

  5. Set the desired Start Date, Start Time, and Duration.

  6. (Optional) Select Video Chat. If unchecked, the Live Group Chat Activity defaults to a text-only live chat.

  7. Under the Activity Access section, choose Only select participants.

    Activity access with only select participants added and this highlighted

  8. Select the desired Participant(s) from the dropdown menu.

  9. Configure the remaining activity settings as required.

  10. (Optional) Add a description for participants to read before they join.

  11. Click Save.

Still Have Questions?

If you have questions or feedback about this article, contact the Recollective Helpdesk at helpdesk@recollective.com.

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