Th ese techniques are commonly used in policy research and are applicable to many research questions. Steps for conducting focus groups or individual indepth interviews 1. Focus groups international journal for quality in health. Despite their popularity, analysing qualitative data. Sample protocol for individual interviews, focus groups. Focus group is yet another widely used method in exploratory research. Focus groups are widely used in market research and in politics, but perhaps less often in research situations.
The use of focus group discussion methodology british ecological. The group interview in social research sciencedirect. The moderator could be the lead researcher on the project but often is not. Chapter 6 analyzing focus group results 141 participants, and that a short verbal summary at the conclusion of the discussion allows for verification. If both indepth interviews and focus group all of the participants complained about the present evaluation system, the motives of complains were different. Planning the focus group process the first step in conducting a focus group interview is to determine the purpose of the study and whom should be studied. Focus group questions recruitment flyer invitee tracking form introductory remarks sample consent from data analysis format synthesized report format defining a focus group a focus group is a small group of six to ten people led through an open discussion by a skilled moderator. Qualitative research methods for the social sciences, 4th ed. Interaction is a unique feature of the focus group interview. Maximizing resources and data quality show all authors. A focus group discussion is a qualitative data collection method that engages 6 to 12 peoplewith shared characteristics pertinent to the specific discussion topicand is led by a trained facilitator.
This brief includes a basic overview of focus groups. These proposed approaches to focus group data collection yielded strong participation rates, rich qualitative data, and cost savings. Data gathered through individual interviews and focus groups from a study on patterns of cancer informationseeking behaviour are used to exemplify the addedvalue but also the challenges of relying on methods combination. Richard kruegar and mary anne casey1 propose 8 reminders for good questions in focus groups. Guidelines for conducting a focus group the university of.
Interviews and focus groups find, read and cite all the research. Focus group methodology generates distinct ethical challenges that do not correspond fully to those raised by onetoone interviews. Their preference has been for the individual interview. This is a widely used marketing tool which helps organizations develop products and services that are. Fgi focus group interview is a technique used in conducting qualitative research. Introduce yourself, the cofacilitator, and the note taker. Nov 14, 2018 i was recently asked to provide the definition of a focus group, how to conduct a focus group interview and what is the purpose of focus group interviews. This paper highlights these advantages after providing. A focus group can be defined broadly as a type of group discussion about a topic under the guidance of a trained group moderator stewart.
Throughout this reflection, i will be referencing my own experience of conducting a focus group session within a group project and discussing the literature that grounded my. Analysis article pdf available in british journal of nursing mark allen publishing 225. An experienced moderator using a wellprepared guide knows how to garner the views of discussion participants. Focus group interviewing richard krueger 4 beginning the focus group discussion the first few moments in focus group discussion are critical. For this study we conducted focus group interview sessions to explore the influence an alternative representation of beauty and ugliness, as portrayed in the show ugly betty, has on college aged females definition and interpretation of beautytypically questions explored using traditional experimental and other quantitative methods. The principal challenge in obtaining consent lies in giving a clear account of what will take place in the group, owing to. Questions should be carefully planned but appear spontaneous during the interview. My interest in the focus group interview as a research method can be traced back to when. If handled carefully, it can be a powerful technique in having accurate information of the. Focus groups and interviews focus group methodology focus groups take time out of peoples days, so to be respectful of their time, it is best to keep the focus group fairly short, perhaps one and a half or two hours at most. Focus group or individual interviews for exploring childrens health.
Important skills that a group moderator should possess 3. Guidelines for conducting a focus group surveys assume that people know how they feel. It is important to have a note taker to record the focus group feedback. Focus group definition of focus group by the free dictionary. In a brief time the moderator must create a thoughtful, permissive atmosphere, provide ground rules, and set the tone of the discussion. Despite this popularity, analysing qualitative data, particularly focusgroup interviews, poses a. In recent years focus group interviews, as a means of qualitative data collection, have gained popularity amongst professionals within the health and social care arena. A focus group interview has several important features.
This paper explores, in both conceptual and practical terms, three key issues. Apr 25, 2020 a focus group interview is a method of research involving a small group of people who are interviewed on a subject of interest to the researcher. Interviews can be used to explore the views, experiences, beliefs and. More and more research has pointed out that focus group interview is one of the most common methods for collecting qualitative data in the academic arena. Focus group interviews 45 tempting to use this method, i also describe issues involved in recruiting participants and in maximizing the unique dynamics of and the data from a group interview. However, there are times when a group interview, also known as a focus group, can be the best way to ensure that you gain the range of views that you need. Methods of data collection in qualitative research. Definition, objectives, types and guidelines for effective interviewing. Because the people who participated in the focus groups also completed a survey, these same individuals were both. However, there are also some pitfalls to the focus group interview that need to be carefully identified and avoided by researchers who want to generate meaningful. On this question, the answers gained in focus group and in indepth interview were quite different. Pdf in recent years focusgroup interviews, as a means of qualitative data collection, have gained popularity amongst professionals within the.
A focus group is basically research that organizations do to gather information. It enables indepth discussions and involves a relatively small number of people. An interview with an employee can give you more insights to find out the degree of job satisfaction, or an interview with a subject matter expert of quantum theory can give you indepth information on that topic. Focus group discussion is frequently used as a qualitative approach to gain an indepth. There are, however, a number of differences between the two. The purpose of the study is to examine insert topic of study. The moderator arrives with a set list of 1012 questions that. If you do the recruiting yourself, you might need to run an ad in a local publication, work with. Difference between focus group and group interview. Mar 22, 2008 this paper explores the most common methods of data collection used in qualitative research. Difference between focus group and group interview compare. In recent years focusgroup interviews, as a means of qualitative data collection, have gained popularity amongst professionals within the health and social care arena. An interview guide is simply a list of the high level topics that you plan on covering in the interview with the high level questions that you want to answer under each topic. Focus group and interview questions the coordinating center.
The participants attitude in focus group was rather favorable to the research aspects. The integration of focus group and individual interview data made three main contributions. With the logistics completed, the research team can prepare for the focus group. It is focused on a specific area of interest that allows participants to discuss the topic in greater detail. A focus group is a small, but demographically diverse group of people and whose reactions are studied especially in market research or political analysis in guided or open discussions about a new product or something else to determine the reactions that can be expected from a larger population.
Fgi is a discussion facilitated by a trained moderator working to a research guide. Relocation of congolese refugees in lunda norte, angola unhcr 19, july, 2017 3 breakdown by sex and age group of focus group discussion participants. Sound conversational use words participants would use are easy to understand are clear are short are openended openended questions are a hallmark of group. Pdf self reflection of focus groups as an appropriate. Focus group interview is a tool for qualitative market research where a group of people are selected and asked about their opinion or perceptions about a particular topic. Pdf the focus group research method has been used in a variety of settings over the years. Focus groups and group interviews are similar to each other in that they involve groups of individuals who provide answers, feedback and insights to the specific topics, questions or concepts presented to them.
Focus group vs group interview focus groups are a part of qualitative research which is conducted by businesses as a part of market research in which qualitative information is collected about the market, the consumers, product features, customer satisfaction, etc. Pdf on feb 1, 2012, senlin chen and others published chapter 16. It can negatively impact the discussion if the facilitator is stopping to write things down. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. The environment is interactive where the participants are free to discuss with each other.
Wherever possible, there should be a focus group team. This dynamism allows better results in terms of information derived by a focus group. One person is the facilitator and the other is the note taker. Two approaches to focus group data collection for qualitative health research. My own preference morgan, 1996 is for a more inclusive approach that broadly defines focus groups as a research technique that collects data through group interaction on a topic determined by the researcher. This paper introduces focus group methodology and discusses its relevance to those researching health care provision. In this case, the idea is to use a small number of exploratory groups, in an initial stage of the research, to guide the construction of the topics of the interview. Focusgroup interview and data analysis proceedings of. Focus group discussion is frequently used as a qualitative approach to gain an in depth. Focus group and interview questions for parents and healthcare providers. Sometimes it takes listening to the opinions of others in a small and safe group setting before they form thoughts and opinions. It is a facetoface interaction between interviewee and interviewer.
The available literature on focus groups although use of focus groups has mushroomed among social scientists. The disadvantages of using focus group discussion are as follows. The questions and the manner in which the focus group is facilitated will vary based on the type of participants. Focus groups are forums used to gather qualitative data on the customer experience. In recent years focusgroup interviews, as a means of qualitative data collection, have gained popularity amongst professionals within the health and social care.
Paul lazarsfeld and others later introduced this technique in marketing morgan, 1988. Focus group interview definition marketing dictionary. View or download all content the institution has subscribed to. Despite this popularity, analysing qualitative data, particularly focus group interviews, poses a challenge to most practitioner researchers. A focus group lasting more than 90 minutes probably includes too many questions or topics for discussion. The use of focus group interviews as a means of qualitative data collection has gained popularity in health service research in recent years. Pdf focus group interview and data analysis researchgate. The focus group needs to be appropriate for the type of participants in the group. Sample protocol for individual interviews, focus groups, and. Welcome and thank everyone for volunteering to participate. Focus group facilities typically identify members of the audience through their own databases. Focus group interviews for qualitative research flashcards. The two approaches to focus group data collection have methodological contribution to the current evidence base of focus groups in qualitative health services research.
This description is an example of a focus group interview. The group interview has been overlooked by social researchers in general and by ethnographic investigators in particular. Two approaches to focus group data collection for qualitative. Expressions other than those in verbal form such as gestures and stimulated activities can provide researcher with useful insights. Focusgroup interview and data analysis proceedings of the. Start studying focus group interviews for qualitative research. An experienced moderator using a wellprepared guide knows how to. This may be because researchers lack the necessary skills to make them work. Combining individual interviews and focus groups to enhance.
The paper examines each method in detail, focusing on how they work in. Sample protocol for individual interviews, focus groups, and community meetings 1. The aim of this technique is to define the scope of the individual interviews dilshad and latif, 20. A focus group interview is a method of research involving a small group of people who are interviewed on a subject of interest to the researcher. The clients and moderator develop this guide together. Jul 16, 2019 focus group methodology generates distinct ethical challenges that do not correspond fully to those raised by onetoone interviews.
In most research situations, an interview is a onetoone interaction and our page interviews for research discusses their use in gathering data for research. Group interviews can be formal with a specific, structured purpose such as a marketing focus group, or, it can be informal taking place in a field setting where a. Focus group is a type of indepth interview accomplished in a group, whose meetings present characteristics defined with respect to the proposal, size, composition, and interview procedures. Th e course does not aim to cover all the aspects of interviewing and focus groups, but rather it is designed to provide an overview of these methods, as well as some practical tools. I will evaluate the effectiveness of focus groups as a research method.
However, there are also some pitfalls to the focus group interview that need to be carefully identified and. Interviews and focus groups are the most common methods of data collection used in qualitative healthcare research. Focus group interviews focus groups fgi pmr research. It is a form of qualitative research consisting of interviews in which a group of people are asked. The analysis sequence continues after the focus group with an immediate debriefing with the moderator and assistant moderator. Creating an interview guide helps interview research in a number of ways. What you want to learn from the focus group or interview. Bird, in perspectives on data science for software engineering, 2016. A trained moderator leads a 3090minute discussion within the group that is designed to gather helpful information. For best results, a focus group session should include around five or six questions. Plan the study plan your study with the input of your strategy team, stakeholders, and research experts so that collaboratively you determine. A focus group is a market research method that brings together 610 people in a room to provide feedback regarding a product, service, concept, or marketing campaign.
It is a form of qualitative research where questions are asked about their perceptions attitudes, beliefs, opinion or ideas. Key findings the main findings from data generated by the focus group discussions are summarized below. The interview results in a wealth of data that can be applied in many different ways. Steps for conducting focus groups or individual indepth. Download pdf show page numbers a focus group is a qualitative research method in which a trained moderator conducts a collective interview of typically six to eight participants from similar backgrounds, similar demographic characteristics, or both. If handled carefully, it can be a powerful technique in having accurate information of the interviewee otherwise unavailable. At this time, the moderator makes a quick check to ensure. Begin with one facilitator providing introductory comments. Never gossip about the focus groups after the study. A classic qualitative interview research method in which a researcher invites a group of people and asks them questions on. What you want to learn when you need to have that information how youll apply what you learn your budget. Semistructured interviews and focus groups using the right techniques ensures that data are collected in a scientific and standardized manner results in highquality research and thus, credible findings. Additionally, in order to be able to hear from as many folks as possible, keep attendance under 10 or 15 people. Dos and donts of a positive focus group experience 5.
Generate and pretest an interview guide the interview guide sets the agenda for the focus group discussion by establishing the research questions to be addressed in the focus group. 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. Focus group discussion is perceived to be a costeffective and promising. The unit or department at the university of arizona is conducting a program assessment under the supervision of insert responsible party, director, etc.