A focus group discussion fgd is a good way to gather together people from similar backgrounds. 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. Some of the focus groups advantages are as follows. Focus group discussion overseas development institute. Steps for conducting focus groups or individual indepth interviews 1. The recommended pattern for introducing the group discussion includes. It is also a good method to employ prior to designing questionnaires. How to conduct a successful focus group discussion atlan. Planning for a focus group for third graders will be different than planning one for their parents or teachers and may. Time and resources permitting, a project or programme would hope. The anonymity of participants in the focus groups is. Like all qualitative methods, fgds use openended questions to. 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.
Survey methodology shares with focus group method a commitment. Importantly, focus groups were developed after the rise of statistical survey methods. Most of the focus group time is devoted to exploring and examining the key questions. Eacb group consisted of, on average, 6 researcb participants and tbe discussion lasted approximately 2 bours and was taperecorded. Relocation of congolese refugees in lunda norte, angola unhcr 19, july, 2017 3 breakdown by sex and age group of focus group discussion participants. Focus group discussions fgds are part of most experiences of participatory research and action, and perhaps the most commonly used method in the participatory toolkit. Focus group discussion a focus group discussion fgd is a good way to gather together people from similar backgrounds or experiences to discuss a specific topic of interest. Focus groups have advantages for researchers in the field of health and medicine. Focus group interviewing richard krueger 4 beginning the focus group discussion the first few moments in focus group discussion are critical. It is used to learn about opinions on a designated topic, and to guide future action. Fgds are a predetermined semistructured interview led by a skilled moderator. 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.
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. Adapted from guidance on participatory assessments dummett et al 20 2. Semistructured interviews and focus groups 3 the research frame influences the results. Focus groups and group discussion sage research methods. A qualitative framework for collecting and analyzing data. In this chapter, i will focus on the importance of the focus group method, its history, and its benefits and pitfalls. The method aims to obtain data from a purposely selected group of in. Key findings the main findings from data generated by the focus group discussions are summarized below. Pemahaman tentang fgd istilah kelompok diskusi terarah atau dikenal sebagai focus group discussion fgd saat ini sangat populer dan banyak digunakan sebagai metode pengumpulan data dalam penelitian sosial.
The conceptualization of a focus group follows a process similar to a classic research study. Sometimes it takes listening to the opinions of others in a small and safe group setting before they form thoughts and opinions. The questions and the manner in which the focus group is facilitated will vary based on the type of participants. Most educators have survey methods in their bones because they learned them. This section explains our approach used to gather the experiences of women with lived. To analyze target consumer reaction to copy and advertising methods. A qualitative framework for collecting and analyzing data in focus group research anthony j. The discussions in the focus groups can be kept under control. C2960i november 19, 2018 evaluation briefs data collection methods for program evaluation.
The interview guide sets the agenda for the focus group discussion by establishing the research questions to be addressed in the focus group. The method aims to obtain data from a purposely selected group of individuals rather than from a statistically representative sample of a broader population. The critical appraisal of focus group research articles e vermeire, p van royen, f griffiths, s coenen, l peremans, k hendrickx background. It is an inexpensive and fast method of acquiring valuable data. In a brief time the moderator must create a thoughtful, permissive atmosphere, provide ground rules, and set the tone of the discussion. Today researchers have a variety of choices in analyzing focus group data, and these generally fall into two basic categories. The first few moments in focus group discussion are critical. A focus group is a small group discussion guided by a trained leader. The moderator stimulates discussion with comments or subjects. Abstract focus group discussion is frequently used as a qualitative approach. Challenges associated with focus groups are most often attributed to two main factors. Focus groups are group discussions conducted with the participation of 7 to 12 people to capture their experiences and views regarding specific issues closely related to research questions. Advantages and disadvantages of focus groups in research.
It is a form of qualitative research where questions are asked about their perceptions attitudes, beliefs, opinion or ideas. The use of focus groups is a research method that is intended to collect data, through interactive. Focus group discussion is frequently used as a qualitative approach to gain an in. Participants within a focus group may respond very differently to a topic. Focus group discussion is frequently used as a qualitative approach to gain an indepth understanding of social issues. 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. Important skills that a group moderator should possess 3. Once the focus group discussions have been transcribed, analysis can begin. The focus group fg is one of the qualitative research methods to be utilized in the search for answers to such questions. Focus group weaknesses as with any research method, focus groups are not without weaknesses. Group discussion is a means of collecting data in one go from several people who usually share common experiences and which concentrates on their shared meanings, whereas a focus group is a special type of group discussion with a narrowly focused topic discussed by group members of equal status who do not know one another. A focus group discussion or fgd is a qualitative research method in the social sciences, with a particular emphasis and application in the developmental program evaluation sphere. Parents share their views on local child care programs, and on what could be done to improve them.
A focus group discussion involves gathering people from similar backgrounds or experiences together to discuss a specific topic of interest. In mixed method research, comparing and relating may result. Focus group interviews nurture different perceptions and points of view and are used to gather. Now, fg is used intensely in the marketing field, and also, it has been growing in popularity in aother areas.
Focus group discussions are becoming an increasingly popular methodology in primary health care research. During a focus group, a group of individualsusually 612 peopleis brought together in a room to engage in a guided discussion. Coworkers and friends are more comfortable in voicing views in each others company than on their own with the researcher. The fundamental data produced by this technique are the transcrips of the group discussions and. A focus group discussion is a qualitative data collection method that engages 6 to 12. There are many method of collection of data in the qualitative research method amoungst them fgd is one. The method aims to obtain data from a purposely selected group of. A focus group of parents of preschoolers meets to discuss child care needs.
Todays market researcher has an embarrassment of tools available to them, yet one research option has stood the test of time the focus group. Group discussionsfocus groups sage research methods. Some focus group discussions were taperecorded with the permission of the participants. A focus group is a small, but demographically diverse group of people and whose reactions are studied especially in market research or political analysis in guided or open discussions about a new product or something else to determine the reactions that can be expected from a larger population. Focus groups are a form of qualitative research that is commonly used in product marketing and marketing research, but it is a popular method within sociology as well. Focus groups are timeconsuming and result in mountains of data. Focus group discussion in qualitative research new delhi. Focus group discussion report for the civil society. Yesno questions or questions that are too specific can limit discussion and decrease the value of a focus group. Focus group discussions are facilitated discussions, held with a small group of. The focus group needs to be appropriate for the type of participants in the group. In the focus groups, dont include questions for group discussion if you need individual responses. Once the study purpose has been defined, the study population and sample have to be defined.
A focus group methodology was selected because it was expected that the group discussion would provide richer data than individual interviews, as shared experiences and understandings encourage. Focus groups overview the focus group is an exploratory research method used to help researchers gather in. This paper introduces focus group methodology, gives advice on group composition, running the groups, and analysing the results. Focus groups aim to discover the key issues of concern for selected groups.
Throughout the session, the moderator must facilitate the discussion and attempt to elicit participation from all members. Introduction to focus groups barry nagle nichelle williams. Focus groups data collection method is most suitable for types of studies where multiple perspectives. An approach to deciding whether to use focus groups is suggested, which includes a consideration of when focus groups are preferred over onetoone interviews. Focus groups can help clarify such perplexing information. Following are the main advantages of focus group discussion in research. Pengambilan data kualitatif melalui fgd dikenal luas karena kelebihannya dalam memberikan. This is because there is no designated leader in the group and the discussions are made natural. Instead, you can have the moderator give each participant self. Methodological articles about the focus group method in health care journals mainly summarize general advice from the social sciences e. Focus group discussions contents what focus group discussions are and when to use them 1. In focus group discussion participants are free to talk with other group. Kitzinger, 1995, 2006, while fieldspecific aspects of the target groups patients, doctors, other medical staff and the research questions not only sociological but often also. The critical appraisal of focus group research articles.
The focus group fg has been actually employed by marketing, and is becoming importanct also in other areas. They can be used to understand peoples beliefs, opinions and attitudes about the topic of inter. This method serves to solicit participants attitudes and perceptions, knowledge and experiences, and. Guidelines for conducting a focus group surveys assume that people know how they feel. In general, focus group discussions are 60 to 90 minutes long. Focus groups are dynamic group discussions used to collect information. Dos and donts of a positive focus group experience 5. Steps for conducting focus groups or individual indepth. A topic related to gender equity, for example, may provoke intense discussion among.
1090 378 721 358 982 126 6 1374 1215 1024 1299 196 363 1111 66 906 1034 716 1049 271 442 1535 1637 210 1191 213 672 955 760 131 311 764 1051 1344 597