Audience Research: Focus Group Questions

What is your favourite genre of documentary?
Amelie: I love documentaries based around the natural world, whether that be in the water or land. For example I am fascinated by blue planet and how you get an insight into many animals behaviours we wouldn't see normally.
Lauren: My favourite genre of documentary are ones based around peoples lives. For example, I really enjoy watching Stacey Dooley's series as I find it interesting to have an insight into other peoples lives and different ways of living.
Sam: I'm into crime documentaries, like ones about serial killers - mainly because I find them interesting. I also like nature documentaries, mainly David Attenborough ones also because they are interesting to me.
Alex: My favourite type of genre is ones based on true life stories and murder/crime. Also equestrian ones about training techniques. For example, rich kids go poor or smugglers, also anything Stacey Dooley does as she asks straight very off the cuff questions and gets truthful answers she wants.

How often do you watch documentaries?
Amelie: Multiple times a week, sometimes I will rewatch old ones that i particularly enjoyed.
Lauren: I watch at least one documentary a week.
Sam: I tend to watch documentaries a couple of times a week.
Alex: Whenever I see something that interests me, if it catches my eye then I will invest my attention.

What platform do you watch them on?
Amelie: Netflix, National Geographic or BBC iPlayer.
Lauren: Depends what documentary but normally Netflix and BBC iPlayer.
Sam: Mainly BBC iPlayer and Netflix
Alex: BBC iPlayer, Crime Channel, Horse and Country.

Have you ever felt like a documentary impacted you?
Amelie: Completely, on Netflix there are 2 documentaries called 'chasing coral' and 'chasing ice' - they both look at the impact of global temperatures on different habitats by using camera that take photos of the same location everyday for months and evaluate how it really impacts humans if we don't start changing our behaviours.
Lauren: Definitely. Especially mental health documentaries - for example I loved Jesy Nelson's documentary Odd One Out and it really impacted the way I look at celebrities, and found it reminded people that what you seen online isn't everything - nor is it always realistic.
Sam: I think I was impacted the most by a documentary on Netflix about the Russian filing scandal and how easy it was for them to get away with it, it really highlighted to me just how bad the scandal was and how corrupt the Russian government are in their attempts to win and later cover it up.
Alex: Yes, particularly the equestrian ones as I like them to try the techniques demonstrated and different exercises to see if they could work for me. (So it impacts my horse as well!)