What focus group discussions are and when to use them. It is not intended for focus groups in the context of developing a research hypothesis. Pdf the focus group research method has been used in a variety of settings over the years. Focus group interview is one of the valuable tools for collecting qualitative data. Depending on the research objective, the focus group can be used alone or in conjunction with other methods.
Abstract the efficacy of focus group discussion as a qualitative data collection methodology is put on the line by. The critical appraisal of focus group research articles taylor. Evaluating the efficacy of focus group discussion fgd in qualitative social. Ela teaching strategies for small group discussions. The focus group technique is one example of a qualitative research methodology used to explore the opinions, knowledge, perceptions, and concerns of individuals in regard to a particular topic. Eacb group consisted of, on average, 6 researcb participants and tbe discussion lasted approximately 2 bours and was taperecorded. This manuscript has been published in the american journal of evaluation 2014, v 35, no 3, pp. It is particularly useful when researchers seek to discover participants meanings and ways of understanding. This paper uses the definition of focus group as a controlled group discussion, on the basis that the group interaction generated through discussion is. We conclude that focus groupsare not a quick and easy methodof collecting. Two approaches to focus group data collection for qualitative. The focus group is a frequently used method in the social sciences. Focus group discussion diskusi kelompok terfokus sebagai.
A focus group is a small group discussion guided by a trained leader. Evaluating the efficacy of focus group discussion fgd in. Maximizing resources and data quality show all authors. Pdf a case study based on a focus group discussion on. The who, what, when, where, why, and how many of focus.
Conducting a focus group discussion with a natural group may reveal. Focus groups have advantages for researchers in the field of health and medicine. Pdf a case study based on a focus group discussion on the. A qualitative research design in the context of focus group discussions was used. With increasing number of older adults worldwide, promoting health and wellbeing becomes a priority for aging well. How to fix the 5 most common mistakes with focus groups. Breen faculty of education, university of technology, sydney, australia abstract this article guides readers through the decisions and considerations involved in conducting focusgroup research investigations into students learning experiences. Focus group interviews nurture different perceptions and points of view and are used to gather. A focus group discussion or fgd is a qualitative research method in the social sciences, with a particular emphasis and application in the developmental program evaluation sphere. This method serves to solicit participants attitudes and perceptions, knowledge and experiences, and.
Notepads and pencils flip charts or easel paper focus group script. Breen faculty of education, university of technology, sydney, australia abstract this article guides readers through the decisions and considerations involved in conducting focus group research investigations into students learning experiences. These discussions should be held in an environment that is nonthreatening and receptive. Focus groups explicitly use group interaction as part of the method kitzinger 1995. This versatile strategy for small group discussions incorporates movement as students scoot around the classroom. In a brief time the moderator must create a thoughtful, permissive atmosphere, provide ground rules, and set the tone of the discussion. It can impact focus group discussion if the facilitator is anxious because materials are missing or purchased at the last minute.
Focus group interviewing richard krueger 4 beginning the focus group discussion the first few moments in focus group discussion are critical. A focus group of parents of preschoolers meets to discuss child care needs. Focus groups international journal for quality in health. If youve ever participated in a wellrun focus group youd probably say it felt very natural and comfortable to be talking with a group of strangers. This paper uses the definition of focus group as a controlled group discussion, on the basis that the group interaction generated through discussion is of prior importance to this methodology. International journal of qualitative methods 2011, 104 401 introduction within the past two decades, focus groups have gained popularity as a research method within. Focus group discussion a focus group discussion fgd is a good way to gather together people from similar backgrounds or experiences to discuss a specific topic of interest. Focus group interviews are a qualitative research method that consist of a carefully designed discussion which allows people to express their points of view in a group. The focus group is the collaboration of people who come together to make an opinion, put forth their belief and perspective for the product or service initiate, in the company they help the company to grow as they are sort of critics who tell what is good and what is right for the company by forming their own ideas and correcting the wrong ones. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore perceptions on aging well among older adult palestinians. Metode focus group discussion fgd merupakan pendekatan yang umum digunakan untuk mengumpulkan datainformasi pada penelitian kualitatif, tidak terkecuali penelitian keperawatan yang saat ini semakin populer menggunakan metode fgd sebagai metode pengumpulan data. After the focus group, when having a team debrief about what was observed, the observers are more likely to remember the more extreme and vivid comments. One of the participants, helen, was an extroverted woman who was the dominant group member.
The method aims to obtain data from a purposely selected group. The focus group typically involves six to ten individuals who have some knowledge of or experience with the topic. Aug 16, 2011 the results of the focus group interviews helped us design parent lounges that met the unique needs of parents who often spend days, weeks or even months in the hospital with a sick child. This paper highlights these advantages after providing guidelines on group composition, the management of group discussion and the process of analysing results. In this paper we relate the history of the focus group as a research tool, from its original uses by lazarsfeld and merton in early communications research to its decline as social science research became more strongly quantitative and experimental. Evaluating the efficacy of focus group discussion fgd in qualitative social research william boateng, phd department of sociology university of saskatchewan 1019 9 campus drive, saskatoon sk. The focus group is the collaboration of people who come together to make an opinion, put forth their belief and perspective for the product or service initiate, in the company.
Focus group discussion is a form of qualitative research method in which the interviewer also called the moderator asks research participants specific questions about a topic or an issue in a group discussion. The goal of todays meeting is to understand if the internal communications and news you currently receive is effective, relevant and valuable to. A focus group is a smallgroup discussion guided by a trained leader. As a qualitative data collection technique, the focus group has advantages over other qualitative methods, such as the indepth interview and the nominal group technique. The focus group fg technique has been recently rediscovered by social scientists. Please look for signs once you arrive directing you to the room where the focus group will be held. The key difference between onetoone interviews and focusgroup discussions is that the. The purpose of the study is to examine insert topic of study.
Focus group discussion is frequently used as a qualitative approach to gain an indepth understanding of social issues. The interview data revealed aspects of the focus group method that are particularly relevant for health research and that should be considered in that context. Parents share their views on local child care programs, and on what could be done to improve them. Focus group interview as a tool for qualitative research. This is an exploratory research done through a real time focus group discussion carried on with the purpose of analysing the expert opinions of the focus group. Use this group when clients ask you to conduct a focus group and invite those who ask. It is a form of qualitative research where questions are asked about their perceptions attitudes, beliefs, opinion or ideas. A focus group is a gathering of deliberately selected people who participate in a facilitated discussion intended to elicit consumer perceptions about a particular topic or area of interest. Focus group discussion is a research methodology in which a small group of participants gather to discuss a specified topic or an issue to generate data. Focus group discussion is frequently used as a qualitative approach to gain an in. Online focus groups and qualitative research in the social sciences.
Wellbeing and physical and mental health are closely related, and this relation may become more vital at older ages as it may contribute to aging well. Heong the focus group discussion fgd is a rapid assessment, semi. If the facilitator is anxious, this may make the participants uncomfortable and limit discussion. Whereas locations inside the clinic were preferred in the case of the patient focus groups because of familiarity and easy accessibility, hospital doctors were more engaged in the discussion when the focus group site was located at least some yards away from their workplace. This type of group restricts participants to 45 members instead of the usual 610. Number of focus groups conducted date of focus group case study area number of participants. The focus group technique is a type of qualitative research methodology. This publication, introduction to conducting focus groups, is the fifth in a series of guides developed to bring information to this audience about the use of social science tools in their field of work. In this paper we relate the history of the focus group as a research tool, from its original uses by lazarsfeld and merton in early communications research to its decline as social science research became. It is always a good idea to check which reporting standard is preferred by the journal. We also explore the recent revival of the focus group in audience reception studies.
How to conduct a successful focus group discussion atlan. Fgds are a predetermined semistructured interview led by a skilled moderator. Intevnalioiwt journal of sociat researcti meltwchtogy. What you didnt know perhaps were the many hidden structures behind it all. A focus group discussion involves gathering people from similar backgrounds or experiences together to discuss a specific topic of interest. Interview focus group complex subject matter and knowledgeable respondents, promote discussion between participants on a specific topic when interviewing one person at a time will yield the best info ex.
Breen faculty of education, university of technology, sydney, australia abstract this article guides readers through the decisions and considerations involved in conducting focusgroup research. The questions and the manner in which the focus group is facilitated will vary based on the type of participants. Focus group research is used to develop or improve products or services. Rethinking the focus group in media and communications. These proposed approaches to focus group data collection yielded strong participation rates, rich qualitative data, and cost savings. Focus group interviews are a qualitative research method that consist of a carefully designed discussion which allows people to express their points of view in a group setting and provide researchers with indicators of program impact. Two approaches to focus group data collection for qualitative health research. Taking focus groups as controlled group discussions, with their hallmark being their interactive nature, and other important features being the. Online focus groups and qualitative research in the social. The who, what, when, where, why, and how many of focus groups this guide is intended for use for focus groups in the context of preparing a new survey or doing an evaluation project. Focus group discussion can be utilised within a suite of techniques in a multi. The group of participants is guided by a moderator or group facilitator who introduces topics for discussion and helps the group to. To enhance the credibility of focus group evidence and maximize potential learning from this popular qualitative data collection method, we offer a set of questions to guide evaluators reflection and decision making about focus group design and implementation.
The unit or department at the university of arizona is conducting a program assessment under the supervision of insert responsible party, director, etc. The data collected in focus group sessions typically consist of taperecorded group discussions among four to ten participants who share their thoughts and experiences on a set of topics selected by the researcher. The method aims to obtain data from a purposely selected group of individuals rather than from a statistically representative sample of a broader population. It is used to learn about opinions on a designated topic, and to guide future action. However, such a widespread use of fg seems to have become a fashionable research technique. A focus group discussion is a qualitative data collection method that engages 6 to 12 peoplewith. Focus groups have received little attention from sociologists, although they are a commonly used qualitative technique in market research. The impression is that fg is often adopted without any prior consideration of whether it. So lets take a look at some of my favorite strategies for small group discussions that will help you to engage your students in meaningful academic conversation. Journal of extension, spring 1993, volume 31, number 1. A focus group gathers together people from similar backgrounds or experiences to discuss a specific topic of interest, guided by a moderator who introduces topics for discussion and helps the group to participate in a lively and natural discussion amongst themselves. A focus group lasting more than 90 minutes probably includes too many questions or topics for discussion.
A focus group discussion fgd is a qualitative research method and data collection technique in which a selected group of people discusses a given topic or issue indepth, facilitated by a professional, external moderator. Methodological aspects of focus groups in health research. Guidelines for conducting a focus group data innovation project. They help the company to grow as they are sort of critics who tell what is good and what is right for the company by forming their own ideas and correcting the wrong ones. The results of the focus group interviews helped us design parent lounges that met the unique needs of parents who often spend days, weeks or even months in the hospital with a sick child. This is an exploratory research done through a real time focus group discussion carried on with the purpose of analysing the expert opinions of the focus group participants and generating more relevant research questions for which the study can be. What is the purpose and advantages of focus group interviews. The two approaches to focus group data collection have methodological contribution to the current evidence base of focus groups in qualitative health services research. A practical guide to focusgroup research rosanna l. The focus group fg has been actually employed by marketing, and is becoming importanct also in other areas. Tbe bulk of tbese sessions were conducted by tbe autbor, otbers were mn by colleagues on tbe project. In focus group discussion participants are free to.
Article pdf available in singapore medical journal 493. Fgds are a predetermined semistructured interview led. The focus group needs to be appropriate for the type of participants in the group. Imagine a focus group exploring peoples attitudes about an airlines customer service. A focus group discussion fgd is a qualitative research method and data. It has become the subject of important methodological discussions and it is now considered a very innovative research method.
One or more participants provisionally take up the role of moderator. International journal of business and social science. Use of the focus group technique in research for planning of interventions the research aimed to discuss the construction of the. Focus groups, unlike individual interviews, provide the added dimension of the interactions among members. We performed qualitative content analysis on the interview data relating to recruitment, communication between the focus group participants, and appraisal of the focus group method. Focus group discussion overseas development institute.
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