Focus Group Practice; Focus Groups in Social Research; Advanced Focus Group Research

The article focuses on the intersection of theory methodology and empirical research to argue that we can learn about habitus through certain types of focus groups. An account of the relationship between structure, individual and collective agency is developed to provide a grounding for the methodological argument. The article suggests, on the basis of this understanding, that focus groups can be constituted to give us access to interactions which draw upon the collective basis of habitus. Some empirical work is drawn upon for illustrative purposes.

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Issues in the Analysis of Focus Groups: Generalisability, Quantifiability, Treatment of Context and Quotations

The Qualitative Report ◽

10.46743/2160-3715/2010.1143 ◽

2014 ◽

Author(s):

Lilla Vicsek

Keyword(s):

Focus Group ◽

Focus Groups ◽

Group Discussion ◽

Concrete Situation ◽

Focus Group Research ◽

Group Research ◽

Group Data ◽

Focus Group Data ◽

Quantifying In

In this paper I discuss some concerns related to the analysis of focus groups: (a) the issue of generalisation; (b) the problems of using numbers and quantifying in the analysis; (c) how the concrete situation of the focus groups could be included in the analysis, and (d) what formats can be used when quoting from focus groups. Problems with respect to generalisation are discussed; types of generalisation are presented which can be used in focus group research. Arguments are made against using a primarily quantitative perspective in the evaluation of focus group data. It is argued that the situation of the particular group discussion should be taken into account in the analysis. A scheme for analysis that has been developed by the author is presented. Suggestions are made for the characteristics of the quotations in the analyses.

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Advantages, Disadvantages, and Lessons Learned in Conducting Telephone Focus Groups to Discuss Biospecimen Research Concerns of Individuals Genetically at Risk for Cancer

The Qualitative Report ◽

10.46743/2160-3715/2014.1224 ◽

2014 ◽

Author(s):

Alexis Koskan ◽

Janique Rice ◽

Clement Gwede ◽

Cathy Meade ◽

Ivana Sehovic ◽

...

Keyword(s):

At Risk ◽

Focus Group ◽

Focus Groups ◽

Health Research ◽

Lessons Learned ◽

Perceived Benefits ◽

Face To Face ◽

Focus Group Research ◽

Telecommunication Technology ◽

Group Research

Advances in telecommunication technology allow biomedical researchers to explore new, inexpensive opportunities for conducting focus group research. This article reports our experiences using such technology to engage individuals genetically at risk for cancer about biospecimen research. Telephone-based focus groups were conducted with a total of 40 individuals, and participants were asked about their experiences and perceived benefits and limitations of participating in a telephone focus group about biospecimen research. The lessons learned can effectively be applied to other areas of health research. In particular, this method may be most useful to engage individuals who are less apt to speak in public, and/or when there are concerns over privacy if face-to-face discussions methods are used.

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How I Learned to Conduct Focus Groups

The Qualitative Report ◽

10.46743/2160-3715/2009.2849 ◽

2016 ◽

Author(s):

Maribel Del Rio-Roberts

Keyword(s):

Qualitative Research ◽

Focus Group ◽

Focus Groups ◽

Human Services ◽

Group Interaction ◽

Human Experience ◽

Research Approach ◽

Focus Group Research ◽

Group Research ◽

Research Questions

The use of focus groups may provide researchers with important insights into research questions via participant discussion and interaction. As a human services practitioner and researcher, I became interested in learning how to conduct focus groups in order to apply these steps to my research and gain valuable insights about the human experience that the focus group interaction aims to bring to light. In this review, I will highlight the steps that I took to learn to conduct focus group research and through my experience I hope that readers gain familiarity and clarity into this unique qualitative research approach.

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Designing Generative Dialogue Spaces to Enhance Focus Group Research: A Case Study in the Context of COVID-19 Vaccination

International Journal of Qualitative Methods ◽

10.1177/16094069211066704 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 20 ◽

pp. 160940692110667

Author(s):

Dimitra Dimitrakopoulou

Keyword(s):

Qualitative Research ◽

Focus Group ◽

Focus Groups ◽

Lived Experiences ◽

Design Thinking ◽

Personal Narratives ◽

Deep Understanding ◽

Focus Group Research ◽

Group Research

Focus groups are a core method in qualitative research for bringing people together to discuss an issue of concern; however, it has been criticized for not enabling researchers to gain a deep understanding of the participants’ lived experiences or generating in-depth personal narratives that build on those experiences. In this article, the author builds on the shared epistemologies of qualitative research and journalism to introduce the Generative Dialogue Framework. The Generative Dialogue Framework is grounded in the intersection of inquiry, knowledge, and storytelling to design and facilitate remote and in-person focus groups. Informed by phenomenology, the philosophy of dialogue, and design thinking, along with a strong visual focus, the framework aims to surface participants’ lived experiences as a way of understanding their perceptions, thoughts, and perspectives, especially within the context of controversial or polarizing topics of concern. The Generative Dialogue Framework stimulates constructive dialogue by offering a focused framework and a structured yet flexible question guide. The result is intended to be a reflective learning dialogue in which participants jointly develop shared meanings and insights, rather than simply exchanging rationalized opinions. Drawing on insights from a case study that explores people’s perceptions of the COVID-19 vaccination, the article demonstrates the framework’s application and provides a toolkit to structure the design and implementation process. Finally, reflecting on methodological and epistemological perspectives, the author reviews the advantages and challenges of applying the framework in focus group research for both researchers and participants.

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Productive Methods in the Study of Culture and Cognition

The Oxford Handbook of Cognitive Sociology ◽

10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190273385.013.18 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 323-340

Author(s):

Terence E. McDonnell ◽

Kelcie L. Vercel

Keyword(s):

Focus Group ◽

Cognitive Processes ◽

Social Research ◽

Visual Methods ◽

Arts Based Research ◽

Focus Group Research ◽

Group Research ◽

Creativity Research ◽

Cultural Schemas ◽

Methodological Strategy

Productive methods (McDonnell 2014) are one methodological strategy for drawing out and measuring cognitive processes in social research. Productive methods build on methodological advances in the areas of participatory research, arts-based research, creativity research, visual methods, and focus group research, and capitalize on the advantages of attending to embodiment, emotion, and interaction. Productive methods require research participants to work together to create a cultural object, some thing that did not exist prior to the research. By observing this collaboration and production process, and comparing the process with the product, the researcher gains access to difficult-to-obtain data, including implicit and nondiscursive cognition and cultural schemas. Productive methods offer one solution to the widely acknowledged challenge of studying and measuring cognition.

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How I Learned to Conduct Focus Groups

The Qualitative Report ◽

10.46743/2160-3715/2011.1057 ◽

2014 ◽

Author(s):

Maribel Rio-Roberts

Keyword(s):

Qualitative Research ◽

Focus Group ◽

Focus Groups ◽

Human Services ◽

Group Interaction ◽

Human Experience ◽

Research Approach ◽

Focus Group Research ◽

Group Research ◽

Research Questions

The use of focus groups may provide researchers with important insights into research questions via participant discussion and interaction. As a human services practitioner and researcher, I became interested in learning how to conduct focus groups in order to apply these steps to my research and gain valuable insights about the human experience that the focus group interaction aims to bring to light. In this review, I will highlight the steps that I took to learn to conduct focus group research and through my experience I hope that readers gain familiarity and clarity into this unique qualitative research approach.

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Making focus groups accessible and inclusive for people with communication disabilities: a research note

Qualitative Research ◽

10.1177/1468794120941846 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 146879412094184

Author(s):

Filippo Trevisan

Keyword(s):

Focus Group ◽

Focus Groups ◽

Universal Design ◽

Communication Disorders ◽

Research Note ◽

Unique Contribution ◽

Focus Group Research ◽

Communication Disabilities ◽

Group Research ◽

Communication Disability

Participating in focus groups can be challenging for people with communication disabilities. Given that more than 1 in 10 adults has a communication disability, focus groups that overlook their needs exclude a large part of the population. This research note makes a unique contribution toward creating more inclusive focus groups by discussing a variety of strategies employed in a recent study of political participation among Americans with disabilities that included a high proportion of participants with communication disorders. Universal design principles can support the “mainstreaming” of communication disabilities in focus group research, contributing to more inclusive and representative social science scholarship.

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Focus Group Research

Group Analysis ◽

10.1177/0533316407076126 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 40 (1) ◽

pp. 125-139 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Gary Winship ◽

Julie Repper

Keyword(s):

Focus Group ◽

Focus Groups ◽

Size Structure ◽

Data Generation ◽

Negative Dialectics ◽

Focus Group Research ◽

Marginalized Groups ◽

Group Research ◽

Group Methods

This article considers the philosophical underpinnings that have shadowed the emergence of focus group methods as a counterpoise to positivist research design. Examples of the application of focus group methods are drawn from two studies where the voices of marginalized groups were facilitated: 1) focus groups with patients diagnosed with personality disorder; and 2) focus groups with gypsy travellers. In both groups there were varying degrees of coherence in communication although particular attention here is paid to the role of dissonance and `negative dialectics' in the formation of opinion. Data generation in focus groups is considered in relation to group size, structure and clinical techniques.

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A groupwork approach to focus group research in the context of a psychiatric clubhouse program

Groupwork ◽

10.1921/gpwk.v21i1.714 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

pp. 46

Author(s):

W. J. Casstevens ◽

Marcia B. Cohen

Keyword(s):

Focus Group ◽

Focus Groups ◽

Data Gathering ◽

Health And Wellness ◽

Transcription Analysis ◽

Non Profit ◽

Focus Group Research ◽

Group Research ◽

Client Population

<p><i>This article explores the use of focus groups with a vulnerable client population to facilitate the development of non-profit agency programming. A series of four focus groups on health and wellness at a psychiatric Clubhouse was recorded and transcribed. Transcription analysis indicated the group facilitator reached for feelings, encouraged sharing, and was consistently empathic. These and other departures from the data gathering role are examples of Cohen and Garrett’s (1999) recommendations on integrating groupwork skills and focus group research, all of which supported meaningful sharing and brain-storming that enhanced the development of health and wellness programming at the Clubhouse.</i></p>

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