Week 6 Lecture: Focus Groups Flashcards
What is a focus group?
=, 2
= A carefully planned discussion to obtain perceptions of a defined interest area
- focus on interactions between participants + what is said
- generate consensus or debate
Kitzinger 2005 on focus groups (defining feature)
“”
“the interaction between participants to generate data and [then] giving attention to the interaction as part of the analysis
Kreuger 1993 on focus groups
“”
“can enable examination of the way either consensus or variation in opinion can occur by relying on the group dynamics in discussion to stimulate interaction for analysis”
What type of information do focus groups generate?
4
- collective perspective
- socially generated knowledge
- polarity and diveristy of opinions
- conversations about sensitive issues
Why use focus groups? In terms of the types of information you need from participants
4
- To determine feelings, perceptions and manner of thinking of participants regarding services, programs or opportunities
- When attitudes and perceptions are developed by interaction with other people
- To promote self-disclosure among participants
- “Give voice” to marginalised groups in homogeneous focus group settings
→ but when you justify why you sampled a focus group, you didn’t sample the focus group for their views, you’re sampling them to find out their views based on other criteria
Situations or examples where you need focus groups
8
- Understanding how consensus and debate on an issue develops
- What informs such interactions
- Needs assessment especially to explore a new concern or for a new population
- Development or refinement of instruments: especially to identify domains, to obtain natural vocabulary for item generation for questionnaires, to assess cultural appropriateness
- Explore interpreation of research results: particularly if results appear contradictory
- Exploratory studies of health issues
- Evaluating health programs
- Solving specific intervention/program problems
What time in your research should you use a focus group?
3
- Before an intervention program begins
- during a program, or
- after a program ends
Focus groups are not effective when:
3
- People are divided or angry and recruited into the same group
- The goal is to gather factual information or statistical data
- confidentiality is a key concern
Focus groups are effective when:
2
- People have something to share (motivations)
- The goal is to understand human behaviour
Planning considerations for focus group
3
- includes the logistics of recruitment
- organising venues
- managing group dynamics.
Who conducts a focus group and where?
- Trained interviewer (moderator/facilitator).
- In a non-threatening environment
How many people in a focus group?
- Approximately four to ten people
Different types of focus group composition
7
- Homogeneous (similar or same) focus groups,
- Heterogenous (different or divergent)
- Naturally occurring groups.
- Familiar/unfamiliar
- Power differentials
- Experts/novices
- Salient characteristics eg gender
Will generate different group dynamics
Incentives for participants
5
- Money ($20-$50)?
- Food?
- Gifts?
- Positive, upbeat
- invitation?
What are the skills required by a focus group moderator?
9, 2
- Mental preperation
- Appropriate location seelction
- Recording discussion
- Purposeful small talk
- Smooth & snappy introduction
- Pauses and probes
- Subtle group control
- Controls reactions to participants
- Appropriate conclusion
So it is important to:
* Select the right moderator or train someone to develop and hone the appropriate
skill sets
* Use an assistant moderator
