Focus groups are a dynamic process through which perspectives and ideas are jointly discussed providing a richness of data. We have extensive experience of setting up focus groups, including recruiting disadvantaged groups. Our researchers are experienced in facilitating groups and have a thorough understanding of the methodological issues surrounding them.
In addition, Inclusion is highly experienced in carrying out focus groups and designing discussion guides that communicate complex issues in Plain English. We are also aware that different groups of participants may not be suited to particular exercises or lines of questioning and take care to prepare contingency discussion guides and alternative exercises that can be used should the original prove unsuitable.
We also ensure that participants understand what they are participating in by providing access to information about the research objectives, topics of conversation and what they can expect of the group at the recruitment stage.
We feel that the benefits of focus groups in our research are that they:
- are a valuable tool in gathering qualitative data because they allow ‘researchers to explore group norms and dynamics around issues and topics that they wish to investigate’ (May, 2001 p125).
- produce richer data or data that complements data obtained from individual interviews. This may be because focus groups grant participants more control over the topics discussed and the opportunity to raise issues of which researchers may not possess the knowledge or experience of.
- In a group setting participants’ answers may also serve as probes to other participants and remind them of issues that they may not have thought to bring up in individual interviews.
We have used focus groups in a large proportion of our work.
Recent projects involving focus groups include:
