Objectives:

Identify situations in which the use of focus groups as a data collection method is appropriate
Analyze the strengths and weaknesses in focus group protocols in reported research
Evaluate the data analysis and interpretation of results from focus groups
Assess how weaknesses in focus group protocols and analyses affect your ability to apply research findings in your work
Develop focus group protocols, including all instrumentation needed to conduct the procedure, analyze the results, and interpret the finding
Test the protocol and instruments, using qualitative and quantitative techniques to assess the validity and reliability of procedures and instruments

Assigned Materials

University of Derby, What makes a good focus group? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XA2Eo1ggkjc This is short -- less than 10 minutes -- and very basic. But it does give an overview of some of the advantages and disadvantages of focus groups as a research method. It also highlights some of the skills that you need to successfully conduct a focus group.

Acocella, I. (2012) The focus group in social research: Advantages and disadvantages. Quality & Quantity, 46(4), 1125-1136. This is a more substantive discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of focus groups.

Society for Research in Child Development. (2012) Overview of Focus Group Methodology. Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Develoment. 77(3), pp. 26-33. DOI: 10.1111/j.1540-5834.2012.00678.x.

Other Preparation -- no need to look at these in advance

Focus Group Protocol -- Hispanic Anglers This was a true focus group. The remaining examples are techniques that I have developed that are multi-method in nature and draw from prior experience with both "check the box" type instruments, interviews, and focus groups.

Strawberry Facilitator's guide. This is part of a multi-methods approach to incorporating farmers and technical advisors in rsearch design, including design of instruments. This is my guide that I use to stay on time and on track.

IRB Protocol High Tunnel Organic Vegetables. IRB Protocol for meeting of an advisory panel for one of our projects using protected agriculture for organic vegetable production.

Informed Consent for High Tunnel Organic Vegetables. This document is what we give to the participants. This is an "exempt" study, meaning that we do not have to ask them to sign and return the form. Everything else is EXACTLY as it is with non-exempt studies. E.g., exempt does not mean you can do less to protect participants or have less requirements for ensuring confidentialy and such. It does reduce paperwork because I do not have to collect and file for 3 years all of the signed forms and I do not have to file as extensive a final report to IRB.

Resources if you do not know much about qualitative data analysis.

Please note that there are many types of qualitative data analysis. -- content analysis, thematic analysis, fuzzy set analysis, etc. These differ greatly. Content analysis, discourse analysis, and thematic analysis are very different things. Please do not assume that there is "one general way" to analyze data qualitatively. I include below a few links to brief (introductory) descriptions to a few types of qualitative analysis.

I just found a new site that is excellent. I highly recommend that you look at this site if you are considering qualitative data analysis. Online QDA If you click on "methodologies" you get a nice introduction to the many kinds of qualitative data analysis. It's a very complete list and there is at least a short description of each technique. For some, there is a link to further readings that generally provide quite a few resources. I have a copy of the Bernard book on Qualitative Data Analysis, which I find to be about the best there is. If you want to take a look at that, let me know and you can peruse it in my office.

Swisher, M.E. (2007) Comments about qualitative data analysis. This is really a combination of thematic analysis and categorization. I use this a lot.

Additional Resources -- Focus Groups

Berg, B.L. (2007). Qualitative research methods for the social sciences. Sixth edition. Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks, CA. See pages 144-168 -- Focus group interviewing.

Breen, R.L. (2006). A practical guide to focus-group research. Journal of Geography in Higher Education 30(3), 463-475. e-reserve

Carlsen, B. & Glenton, C. (2011) What about N? A methodological study of sample-size reporting in focus group studies. BMC Medical Research Methodology 11(1), 26-35.

Coenen, M., Stamm, T., Stucki, G. & Cieza, A. (2012) Individual interviews and focus groups in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A comparison of two qualitative methods. Quality of Life Research 21(2), 359-370.

Duggleby, W. (2005). What about focus group interaction data? Qualitative Health Research 15(6), 832-840.

Freeman, T. (2006). "Best practice" in focus group research: making sense of different views. Journal of Advanced Nursing 56(5), 491-497.

Goltz, D. (2009). Investigating queer future meanings: Destructive perceptions of "the harder path." Qualitative Inquiry 15(3), 561-586.

Gorodzeisky, A. (2011) Focus groupas as a tool in the construction of questionnaires: The case of discrimnatory attitudes. Quality & Quantity 45(6), 1217-1231.

Halcomb, E.J., Gholizadeh, L., DiGiacomo, L. et al. (2007) Literature review: Considerations in undertaking focus group research with culturally and linguistically diverse groups. Journal of Clinical Nursing 16(6), 1000-1011.

Huer, M.B. & Saenz, T.I. (2003). Challenges and strategies for conducting survey and focus group research with culturally diverse groups. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology 12(2), 209-221.

Jones, A.R., Hyland, R.M., Parkinson, K.N. & Adamson, A.J. (2009). Developing a focus group approach for exploring parents' perspectives on childhood overweight. Nutrition Bulletin 34(2), 214-219.

Kaehne, A. & O'Connell, C. (2010) Focus groups with people with learning disabilities. Journal of Intellectual Disabiities 14(2), 133-145.

Keilty, B., LaRocco, D.J. & Cassell, F.B. (2009). Early interventionists' reports of authentic assessment methods through focus group research. Topics in Early Childhood Special Education 28(4), 244-256.

Kidd, P.S. & Parshall, M.B. (2000). Getting the focus and the group: Enhancing analytical rigor in focus group research. Qualitative Health Research 10(3), 293-309.

Lijadi, Anatasia Aldelina & van Schalkwyk, Gertina Johanna (2015) Online Facebook focus group research of hard-to-reach participants. International Journal of Qualitative Methods 14(5), 1-9. DOI: 10.1177/1609406915621383.

Lowery, D.R. & Morse, W.C. (2013) A qualitative methods for collecting spatial data on important places for recreation, livelihoods, and ecological meanings: Integrating focus groups wityh public participation geographic information systems. Society & Natural Resources 26(12), 1422-1437.

McParland, Joanna & Flowers, Paul (2012) Nine lessons and recommendations from the conduct of focus group research in chronic pain samples. British Journal of Health Psychology 17(3), 492-504. DOI: 10.1111/j.2044-8287.2011.02050.x

Morgan, D.L. (2010). Reconsidering the role of interaction in analyzing and reporting focus groups. Qualitative Health Research 20(5), 718-722.

Orvik, A., Larun, L., Berland, A. & Ringsberg, K.C. (2013) Situational factors in focus group studies: A systematic review. International Journal of Qualitative Methods 12(1), 338-358.

Overlien, C., Aronsson, K. & Hydenh, M. (2005) The focus group interview as an in-depth method? Young women talking about sexuality. International Journal of Social Research Methodology. 8(4), 331-344.

Padula, C.A., Rossi, S., Nigg, C., Lees, F. et al. (2003). Using focus groups for instrument development: Application of the transtheoretical model to fruit and vegetable behaviors of older adults. Journal of Nutrition for the Elderly 22(4), 13-33.

Paley, J. (2010). Qualitative interviewing as measurement. Nursing Philosophy 11(2), 112-126.

Pearson, Danielle; Vossler, Andreas. (2016) Methodological issues in focus group research: The example of investigating counsellors' experiences of working with same-sex couples. Counselling Psychology Review 31(1), 8-16.

Rodriguez, K.L., Schwartz, J.L., Lahman, M.K.E. & Geist, M.R. (2011) Culturally responsive focus groups: Reframing the research experience to focus on participants. International Journal of Qualitative Methods 10(4), 400-417.

Stewart, D.W., Shamdasani, P.N. & Rook, D.W. (2007). Focus groups. Theory and practice. Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks, CA.

Watson, M., Peacock, S. & Jones, D. (2006) The analysis of interaction in online focus groups. International Journal of Therapy & Rehabilitation 13(12), 551-557.

Williams, S., Clausen, M.G., Robertson, A., Peacock, S. & McPherson, K. (2012) Methodological reflections on the use of asynchronous online focus groups in health research. Journal of Qualitative Methods 11(4), 368-383.

Winlow, Heather; Simm, David; Marvell, Alan & Schaaf, Rebecca. (2013) Using focus group research to support teaching and learning. Journal of Geography in Higher Education 37(2), 292-303. DOI: 10.1080/03098265.2012.696595.

Zacharakis, J., Steichen, M., de Sabates, G.D. & Glass, D. (2011) Understanding the experiences of adult learners: Content analysis of focus group data. Adult Basic Education & Literacy Journal 5(2), 84-95.