Sep 03, 2011 the focus group fg technique has been recently rediscovered by social scientists. Two focus group discussions were organized on relationship between stress, domestic violence, and health. Focus group discussion is frequently used as a qualitative approach to gain an indepth understanding of social issues. This method serves to solicit participants attitudes and perceptions, knowledge and experiences, and. Advantages and disadvantages of focus groups collabito.
If the focus groups provide advantages, it also provides some of the disadvantages. When a new idea requires examination, the advantages and disadvantages of focus groups come under careful consideration. Following are the main advantages of focus group discussion in research. Wall posters state the fgd topic, objectives and questions photo by p. For this verdict to be decided, voting is used to come to a common outcome acceptable by all the members. It has become the subject of important methodological discussions and it is now considered a very innovative research method. The researcher acts as a moderator to aid discussion by using probes to collect.
We first briefly explain the procedure of the technique and then provide an overview of the different forms of focus group discussion. So, above are some of the advantages of the focus groups. Successful focus groups start with thorough planning. The shared characteristics may relate to a particular problem, livelihoods occupation, age, social group, place of residence, experience of. The principal advantage of focus groups is that they enable you to understand the real feelings and beliefs of the people who will be affected by your researcha layer that is difficult to reach through other methods. Disadvantages of focus groups and how to avoid them. Focus group discussion is a form of qualitative research. Focus group discussion in qualitative research new delhi. Because focus groups are one of the few methods in which data is gathered from a group, it is useful as part of a mixed method approach. Aug 16, 2011 focus group participants are asked questions in an interactive setting and are encouraged to discuss thoughts freely with other participants. Focus group is an important research method, here we list the advantages and disadvantages of such research method. Knowing the advantages and disadvantages of focus group compared to other research methods, its potential use in the.
The impression is that fg is often adopted without any prior consideration of whether it. Paying someone outside of the organization to moderate the focus group can provide the most objective results but can be a financial investment. A focus group is most effective with 712 participants. 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. A facilitator guides the discussion around the particular topic. Focus group discussions are conducted in a special setting with recording and observing equipment. 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. Focus group discussion guide farmers groups group members. The interview will be conducted in a form of group discussion among 6 to 10 respondents in an unstructured and natural way where the participants are free to express ideas and. The method aims to obtain data from a purposely selected group of.
Advantages of focus groups sis international research. Group discussion is a process where a large number of ideas are put forth in front of the group and a decision needs to make which will come in favor of both the individual and the firm. The three focus group discussions were audio taperecorded with parents permission. We are a research team interested in learning more about agriculture in this area. Despite the strength of fgd in soliciting indepth information, the method is limited in terms of the following. Group discussion on a topic involves sharing of learning by the participants which equally benefits all the participants. Focus group discussion with men in dar es salaam, tanzania, about the use of health services during pregnancy and. May 27, 2019 the moderator can bring any changes in order to better facilitate the discussion during the group discussion allowing better results in terms of information derived by a focus group. Advantages and limitations of focus groups howstuffworks. When planning a new focus group discussion, it is always worthwhile to sit down for a minute and consider the pros and cons of an online focus group vs. The cost of a focus group includes a few things paying a moderator, a facility for the sessions, food, and supplies.
The sample for a focus group has individuals with characteristics of the overall population and can contribute to helping the research gain a greater understanding of the topic. Conducting a focus group discussion with a natural group may reveal. Focus groups are often portrayed as heartless in fiction, but in real life they remain a useful feedback method. Evaluating the efficacy of focus group discussion fgd in. Focus group discussion method of data collection kenya. Abstract focus group discussion is frequently used as a qualitative approach to. There are no right or wrong answers to the questions i am about to. A focus group could be formed of a group of care providers or of a group of patients who provide their opinions regarding a number of different treatments or types of care provision. Advantages, disadvantages, and lessons learned in conducting telephone focus groups to discuss biospecimen research concerns of individuals genetically at risk for cancer abstract advances in telecommunication technology allow biomedical researchers to explore new, inexpensive opportunities for conducting focus group research. Consider the advantages and disadvantages of using focus groups before using this method to.
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. Turning to budget issues as a factor in planning focus groups, one guideline is that. Despite the welldocumented advantages of focus group data collection. Group discussion on study topics plays vital role in understanding the topic. Dos and donts of a positive focus group experience 5. Jan 11, 2018 focus group discussion is perceived to be a cost. Methodological aspects of focus groups in health research. September 22, 2010, christina, comments off on benefits of focus groups. It provides a diverse set of responses based on interviewee profiles. Advantages and disadvantages of focus groups universal teacher. Aug 20, 2012 the main goal of focus group discussion is to provide an opportunity for the participants to talk to one another about a specific area of study.
Important skills that a group moderator should possess 3. A group discussion hosted by a moderator, focus groups involve anywhere from four to eight participants. Two key components of planning your focus groups include developing the focus group guide and. The dynamic discussion between participants stimulates their thoughts and reminds them of their own thoughts regarding the research subject. Methodologies such as focus groups allow for rich discussion and probing, which is unmatched in quantitative research. Focus groups are a prominent method of enquiry, regularly used within the field of social science and in particular, qualitative research. Focus groups are defined as group discussions exploring a set of. Advantages and disadvantages of focus groups in research.
The purpose of todays discussion is to get information from you about the training needs of new employees during their first year on the job. This fgd will be conducted with 6 to 12 participants who are members of a farmers group targeted for ofsp. Focus groups generally utilize convenience sampling. Focus group discussion with elderly participants about ageing, health and care in tahuna north sulawesi, indonesia.
Instead of a traditional survey which offers specific question and answer options, the focus group allows participants to speak freely about the ideas presented and offer their opinions in a way that supports what the survey is attempting to discover. The purpose determines how many focus groups are needed and who should be invited to each one. Since then, researchers have used telephone focus groups tfgs to. When data collection methods have been compared with adult participants, interviews have been reported to be the most useful method for raising more ideas in some studies 2426 although others conclude that concepts are more likely to be raised during focus groups 27. The group functions as a promoter of synergy and spontaneity by encouraging the participants to comment, explain, disagree, and share their views. Several focus group advantages and disadvantages are worth considering if a business has a new concept that it wants to bring to the marketplace. 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. Online focus groups are created to reach a broader range of participants.
Instead of a traditional survey which offers specific question and answer options, the focus group allows participants to speak freely about the ideas presented and offer their opinions in a way that supports. 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. The moderator stimulates discussion with comments or subjects. Focus groups are a way to discover demographicrelevant information through an interactive group sessions that is run by a facilitator. Focus groups can help clarify such perplexing information. What are the advantages and disadvantages of conducting focus. You were invited because you were hired within the last year. Provide a broader range of information offer opportunity to seek clarification suggest potential solutions to problems identified deeply understand the phenomena studied. Focus groups explicitly use group interaction as part of the method kitzinger 1995. As such, the focus group method is sometimes referred to as a focus group interview, a group interview, or a group depth interview. Oct 19, 2016 focus group research features a focus group is an interview conducted by an experienced and professional moderator among a group of respondents or participants.
Their responses were noted in the focus groups discussion. Focus group methodology was used to capture group interaction and discussions of adolescents about prescription opioid safety and preferences for learning about medication safety. Focus group learn about different types of focus groups. The discussions were transcribed verbatim for analysis, which took the form of thematic analysis of the verbal data. The moderator can bring any changes in order to better facilitate the discussion during the group discussion. Mar 14, 2016 the fact that the group process helps people to identify and clarify their views is considered to be an important advantage of focus groups compared with individual interviews kitzinger, 1995. The focus group fg has been actually employed by marketing, and is becoming importanct also in other areas. We conclude with a discussion of the value of focus groups in.
Heong the focus group discussion fgd is a rapid assessment, semi. Studies may base decisions on age group, gender, regional background or any other demographic marker. The advantages of focus group discussion are as follows. Wheeler, in the social validity manual second edition, 2019 focus groups. A trained focus group moderator will charge a fee for her. The open and free discussions typically generate ideas and can provide a wealth of information for the business or organization. Focus groups can offer some insights on the opinions and underlying rationales for different groups of people. Focus group discussions are frequently used to obtain perspectives and attitudes of people about issues, seek explanations for behavior, triangulate data obtained through other qualitative methods. Advantages and disadvantages of focus groups advantages disadvantages depth. What is the purpose and advantages of focus group interviews.
Focus groups have been a part of research processes since the early days of world war ii when robert merton used them to examine how effective propaganda efforts were. The moderators control the discussion as per his or her experience. However, such a widespread use of fg seems to have become a fashionable research technique. What is a focus group and what are the benefits of focus groups. No matter the selection process, however, the aim of focus groups is to find a consensus. Two approaches to focus group data collection for qualitative. Additionally, because of the constant interaction and rapport between respondents, focus groups also encourage better group discussions and increased. That case requires the usual protection of participants, with the added assurance that all the participants in each discussion truly belong to the shared milieu.
Focus group surveys are a qualitative research method where a group of people is put together in a room for a discussion on a particular topic. Two groups composed of six members each were constituted to dilate on the issue. Focus group weaknesses as with any research method, focus groups are not without weaknesses. Students should learn to understand their own conditions to choose the best research method for their study. In the marketing, focus groups are seen as an important tool. Depending on the research objective, the focus group can be used alone or in conjunction with other methods. The discussion in a focus group typically builds on top of each answer. Differentiating between focus groups and interviews. Discussing a topic with friends or classmates helps in learning the topic with perfection. Focus group discussion guidefarmers groups group members instructions. This was followed up with a oneonone qualitative interview with the same respondents. Very common in marketing research and based open discussion to collect opinions or emotional response to a subject or area.
The focus group practice involves a number of participants having an open discussion on a specific topic, set by a researcher. The moderator will go over the different research topics, establish a safe environment for sharing, and followup on any topics that are potentially valuable even if they werent part of the initial plan. Captures real life data in a social environment researcher can increase sample size for qualitative research. Free and open discussion among the respondents results in generation of new ideas that can be very useful for decisionmaking.
Challenges associated with focus groups are most often attributed to two main factors. Three key themes were identified zsupports advantages of active school. Taking focus groups as controlled group discussions, with their hallmark. Coworkers and friends are more comfortable in voicing views in each others company than on their own with the researcher. Participants respond and share information through online means. 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. The focus group rooms have a oneway mirror and the observer team sitting in the adjoining room can observe the discussion. The use of focus group in the research design the goal of a focus group is to have the participants understand the topic of interest to the researcher, irrespective of its use, alone or together with other research methods. Textbased online focus groups are not suitable for every qualitative research project. Focus groups have the advantage of including the interactions of participants as part of the empirical material collection. Telephone focus groups to discuss biospecimen research.
They provide a wide variety of perceptions, ideas and opinions. The method aims to obtain data from a purposely selected group of individuals. Advantages and disadvantages of focus groups a window into customers heads focus group discussions lead to valuable output. Advantages and disadvantages of online focus groups when planning a new focus group discussion, it is always worthwhile to sit down for a minute and consider the pros and cons of an online focus group vs. Advantages focus group brings interaction between participants highlights their view of the world. As discussed previously, fg may be considered as much a standalone research method as one used in conjunction with other methods. Dec 11, 2012 focus group is small group selected from a wide population and sampled. Advantages, disadvantages, and lessons learned in conducting.
A focus group that consists of fewer participants usually four or five which creates a more intimate group. One aim of a focus group discussion would be to identify perceptions and. As said the discussions are controlled by the moderator. However, each of these methods presents different advantages and. What are the advantages and disadvantages of focus group. Most focus groups involve between 610 respondents with a discussion that will last for 12 hours per session. It is an inexpensive and fast method of acquiring valuable data. Group decision making advantages and disadvantages wisestep.
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