Why and how do researchers conduct a focus group study?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

A focus group typically consists of six to twelve people who are brought together in a room to engage in a guided discussion of a given topic for up to two hours. Participants are selected for relevance to the topic under study and are unlikely to be randomly chosen. The purpose of the focus group study is to explore, rather than describe or explain in any definitive sense.

At least two investigators should be present during a focus group study—one serving as moderator and the other as recorder. The moderator, guided by the interview guide, facilitates and moderates the discussion to make sure it is not dominated by one or two highly verbal participants and that everyone has an opportunity to talk and share their views. Recording may be done in the same room or an adjacent room, and the study may be videotaped and analyzed later with permission by focus group participants.

Participants talk about their perceptions of the issues raised by the facilitator, hear one another’s views, and provide additional comments. These discussions can yield valuable information about group interactions and dynamics as people react to views they agree or disagree with. Participants are not required to reach consensus on any issues. Instead, the objective is to allow people to provide their own views on the topic of interest in the context of other people’s views.