Which of the following is NOT a key step in conducting an effective focus group?

Conducting an effective focus group involves several key steps aimed at gathering meaningful insights from participants. One crucial step is recruiting participants, which ensures that the group represents a cross-section of opinions and experiences relevant to the topic at hand. Analyzing results is another vital step that involves examining the data collected to derive conclusions and recommendations. Additionally, creating a final report is important for summarizing the findings, conclusions, and any suggested actions based on the focus group discussions.

Writing a policy, however, does not fit within the context of conducting a focus group. Rather, it typically comes after the focus group process is complete and when results have been analyzed and reported. The focus group itself serves to inform policy development but does not inherently involve the actual creation of policy during the focus group process. Hence, this makes it the option that does not align with the primary objectives and activities associated with conducting an effective focus group.