ABSTRACT
Focus group interviews are a popular way of collecting qualitative data from a group of people in order to explore their perceptions, opinions, beliefs or attitudes. These interviews differ from one-to-one discussions (as discussed in Chapter 13) because the researcher asks questions in an interactive group setting and participants respond by entering into group discussions with one another. This chapter begins by looking at the nature and possible uses of focus groups and considering how they differ from one-to-one interviews. The chapter also looks at the advantages and limitations of focus group interviews. The practical and ethical considerations that need to be kept in mind when designing and conducting focus group interviews will also be explored. These include how to decide on the sample, the number of interviews and the size of the groups, deciding on the level of researcher involvement during the discussion, preparing the interview guide, and recording and transcribing the data. The chapter will also consider the issue of group dynamics and the public versus private aspects of group-based research.
