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David L. Morgan
Portland State University
Differentiate
without the interaction found
FGD from the
following as a
Qualitative
in a group.
Method
Participant
Reliance on researcher͛s focus
Observation
@ndividual
and the group͛s interaction
interviews
Enumerate
Supplementary source of data
specific uses for
FGD
Multi-method study
Differentiate
FGD from the
following as a
Qualitative
Method
Participant
Observation
@ndividual
interviews
@dentify unique
characteristic of
Self contained Method
focus group
discussion (FGD) Discussion as a source of primary
Enumerate
specific uses for
data in a qualitative study; basis
FGD
for a complete study.
Differentiate
FGD from the
following as a
Requires careful matching of
Qualitative
Method
research goals with the data that
Participant
FGD can produce to meet these
Observation
goals
@ndividual
interviews
@dentify unique
characteristic of
Supplementary source of data
focus group
discussion (FGD) Discussions serves as a source
Enumerate
specific uses for
of preliminary data in a
FGD
primarily quantitative study
Differentiate
FGD from the
following as a
Ex. To generate survey
Qualitative
Method
questionnaires; to develop
Participant content of a program
Observation
@ndividual
interviews
@dentify unique
characteristic of
Supplementary source of data
focus group
discussion (FGD) Source of follow up data to
Enumerate
specific uses for
assist the primary method
FGD
Differentiate
Ex. pursue poorly understood
FGD from the
following as a
survey results or evaluate
Qualitative
Method
outcome of a program /
Participant intervention
Observation
@ndividual
interviews
@dentify unique
characteristic of
Multi-method study
focus group
discussion (FGD) FGD adds to the data typically
Enumerate gathered through other
specific uses for
FGD qualitative methods
Differentiate
FGD from the The goal is to use each method so
following as a
Qualitative that it contributes something
Method
unique to the understanding the
Participant
Observation
phenomenon being studied
@ndividual
interviews
Enumerate
Greater amount of information that
specific uses for each informant has time to share.
FGD
Differentiate
FGD
FGD from the
following as a Requires greater attention to the
Qualitative
Method role of the moderator
Participant
Observation
Less depth and detail about opinions
@ndividual
and experiences of any given
interviews participant
Determining the
size of the group
Determining the
number of
groups
Planning before @nvasion of privacy
start
Determining the
Use homogenous strangers as
types of participants
participants
Determining
Rely on a relatively structured
Level of group interview with high moderator
structure
involvement
Determining the
size of the group Have 6 to 10 participants per group
Determining the
number of Have a total of 3 to 5 groups per
groups project.
Planning before
start Determining the types of
Overview of FG participants
research Designs
Determining the
theoretically motivated
size of the group samples
Determining the
number of
groups
Planning before Homogeneity and Segmentation
start
Overview of FG
Segmentation - the decision to
research Designs control group composition to match
Determining the
carefully chosen categories of
types of participants.
participants
Determining
Segmented samples are closely tied
Level of group
structure
to the emphasis on homogeneity in
the composition of focus group. @t
Determining the
size of the group
allows free flowing discussion and
facilitates analyses that examines
Determining the
number of differences in perspective between
groups groups.
Planning before Homogeneity and Segmentation
start
Overview of FG
@mportant to consider that the goal is
research Designs homogeneity in background and not
Determining the
in attitude.
types of
participants
Determining
Level of group
structure
Determining the
size of the group
Determining the
number of
groups
Planning before Strangers vs Acquaintances
start
Overview of FG
Strangers and acquaintances can
research Designs generate different group dynamics.
Determining the
types of
When group dynamics is not an issue
participants then decision may be based on
Determining
practical concerns
Level of group
structure
Determining the
size of the group
Determining the
number of
groups
Planning before Strangers vs Acquaintances
start
Overview of FG
When it may be impossible to recruit
research Designs a full group of acquaintances or in
Determining the
other cases it may be impossible to
types of avoid it then decision should be
participants
based on the basic criterion of
Determining
Level of group
whether a particular group of
structure participants can comfortably discuss
Determining the
the topic in ways that are useful to
size of the group the researcher
Determining the
number of
groups
Planning before
start
Recruitment @ssues
Overview of FG @nadequate recruitment efforts are
research Designs
the single most common source of
Determining the problems in FGD
types of
participants
essential to develop careful
Determining
Level of group
procedures to ensure that enough
structure participants will be present for
Determining the
each group.
size of the group
Determining the
number of
groups
Planning before
start
Recruitment @ssues
Overview of FG When homogeneity is a major
research Designs
concern, screening may be done
Determining the prior to discussion but beware that
types of
participants this may post a risk by alerting the
Determining
participants on the topic of the
Level of group research
structure
Determining the
size of the group
Determining the
number of
groups
Planning before
start Determining Level of group
Overview of FG
research Designs structure
Determining the
types of More structured groups
participants
Determining
Level of group
Less structured group
structure
Determining the
The ͞funnel͟ as a
size of the group
compromised approach
Determining the
number of
groups
Planning before
start
More structured groups
Overview of FG
research Designs Useful when there is a strong, pre
Determining the
types of
existing agenda for the research.
participants
Determining A standardized interview and a
Level of group
structure
higher moderator involvement will
üMore contribute in meeting the said
structured
groups
agenda
üLess
structured Narrow set of questions or a
group motivated moderator may limit
üThe ͞funnel͟
approach
data
Planning before Less structured group
start
Overview of FG
research Designs
Useful for exploratory research
Determining the
types of Un-standardized interview guide will
participants
Determining
provide the opportunity to hear the
Level of group
structure
interest of the participants in each
üMore group and minimized moderator
structured involvement will give participants
groups
üLess
more opportunity to pursue what
structured interests them.
group
üThe ͞funnel͟ Disadvantage: more difficult to
approach
compare groups
Planning before The ͞funnel͟ as a compromised
start
Overview of FG
approach
research Designs
Determining the Each group begins with a less
types of
participants
structured approach that emphasizes
Determining free discussion and then moves
Level of group
structure
toward a more structured discussion
üMore of specific questions.
structured
groups Makes it possible to hear the
üLess
structured participants own perspective (early
group part of the discussion) as well as their
üThe ͞funnel͟
approach
responses to researcher͛s specific
interests(later part of the discussion)
Planning before
start
Factor s to be considered in decision
Overview of FG
making
research Designs
Determining the
The amount that each participant
types of
participants
should contribute to the group
Determining
Level of group
How much detail the researchers
structure
need to hear from the participants
Determining the
size of the group
Determining the
number of
groups
Planning before Small groups
start
Overview of FG
run the risk of being less productive
research Designs because they are so sensitive to the
Determining the dynamics among the individual
types of
participants
participants
Determining Works best when participants are
Level of group
structure
likely to be both interested in the
topic and respectful of each other.
Determining the
size of the group
More useful when researcher desires
Determining the
number of
a clear sense of each participant͛s
groups reaction
Planning before Large groups
start
Overview of FG
More difficult to manage especially
research Designs when participants are highly involved
Determining the in the topic.
types of
participants Can easily break up into small
Determining conversations, or people may start
Level of group
structure
talking at once which implies loss of
data because of difficulty taping
Determining the
size of the group
Requires high level of moderator
Determining the involvement which are not desirable
number of
groups for some research purposes
Planning before
start
Practical consideration: over
Overview of FG recruit by 20% to cover for no
research Designs
Determining the
shows
types of
participants Rule of thumb: 6 to 10 participants
Determining
Level of group per group
structure
Determining the
constraints of the field should
number of
groups
always be taken into account.
Planning before
start
Number of groups in a project will
Overview of FG be the primary determinant of how
research Designs
Determining the
much data the research produces.
types of
participants Also have direct impact on the size
Determining
Level of group and structure of the research team
structure
Determining the
number of
groups
Planning before @mportant determinants for the number
start
of groups
Overview of FG
research Designs Variability of participants within and
Determining the across groups; heterogeneous groups
types of
participants
and comparison of several distinct
population segments
Determining
Level of group
structure
Degree of structure of the interview;
less structure more groups required
Determining the
size of the group
because of increased variability from
Determining the
group to group
number of
groups
Planning before
start @f there are few potential participants
Overview of FG
available or if participants are highly
research Designs dispersed then it is wisest to have
Determining the several smaller groups.
types of
participants Having only one group will create severe
Determining problems like it is impossible to tell
Level of group
structure
when the discussion reflects either the
unusual composition of the group or the
Determining the
size of the group
dynamics of the unique set of
Determining the
participants.
number of
groups
Planning before
start
Safest advice: determine number of
Overview of FG
research Designs target groups in the planning stage but
Determining the have a flexible alternative available if
types of
participants more groups are needed.
Determining
Level of group
structure
Determining the
size of the group
Determining the
number of
groups
Ethical concerns
Budget @ssues
Time constraints
Overview of FG research
Designs
Determining the types of
participants
Sampling concerns
Homogeneity and
Segmentation
Strangers vs Acquaintances
Recruitment @ssues