Focus groups
Why is it particularly difficult to get an accurate record and transcript of a focus group session?
Because the researcher often forgets to take notes
Because focus groups are transcribed several years after they are conducted
Because you cannot use a tape recorder in a focus group
Because there are so many different voices to follow
Because there are so many different voices to follow
When transcribing a focus group, it is important to have an accurate record of not only what was said but also who said what. This can be difficult if participants’ speech overlaps or they have similar sounding voices. This means that a lot of extra care must be taken in preparation for the focus group meeting, including the hardware required. It is unlikely that a dictation machine for use in a one-to-one interview setting would work as well for a focus group. In commercial settings, it is now quite usual to use video cameras so that voices can be matched to faces, for example. The main point is that if a proper record cannot be made, an inadequate transcript will be the result.
Reference: Bryman: Social Research Methods: 5th Edition Page(s) 503
Reference: Bryman: Social Research Methods: 5th Edition Page(s) 503
Because there are so many different voices to follow When transcribing a focus group, it is important to have an accurate record of not only what was said but also who said what. This can be difficult if participants’ speech overlaps or they have similar sounding voices. This means that a lot of extra care must be taken in preparation for the focus group meeting, including the hardware required. It is unlikely that a dictation machine for use in a one-to-one interview setting would work as well for a focus group. In commercial settings, it is now quite usual to use video cameras so that voices can be matched to faces, for example. The main point is that if a proper record cannot be made, an inadequate transcript will be the result.
Reference: Bryman: Social Research Methods: 5th Edition Page(s) 503
Reference: Bryman: Social Research Methods: 5th Edition Page(s) 503
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Why have feminists argued that focus groups successfully avoid “decontextualizing” their participants?A. Because they study the individual as part of a social context
B. Because they tend to be carried out by female researchers
C. Because moderating a focus group demands great technical knowledge
D. Because the data tends to be analysed using post-structuralist theories
What is the role of the moderator in a focus group?
A. To stimulate discussion and keep the conversation on track
B. To ask leading questions and dominate the discussion
C. To sit away from the group and observe their behaviour
D. To evaluate the group’s performance on a particular task
When might it be useful to conduct a relatively large number of focus groups?
A. When participants’ views are likely to be affected by socio-demographic factors
B. When you want to capture as much diversity in perspectives as possible
C. When there are lots of willing volunteers who meet the relevant criteria
D. All of the above
What should the moderator say in their introductory remarks?
A. Thank you to the participants for coming
B. Who they are and what the research is about
C. How the focus group will proceed
D. All of the above
What is the main difference between a focus group and a group interview?
A. Group interviews involve fewer participants
B. Focus groups are used to study the way people discuss a specific topic
C. There is no moderator present in a focus group
D. Focus groups save more time and money
How have focus groups been used in media and cultural studies?
A. To plan champagne receptions
B. To investigate birth and conception
C. To explore audience reception
D. To measure TV reception
What are the two main forms of group interaction that Kitzinger identifies in focus group sessions?
A. Altruistic and aggressive
B. Complementary and argumentative
C. Conventional and alternative
D. Passive and assertive
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