Doing Focus Groups

by Rosaline Barbour

Focus groups are an ever popular method for collecting qualitative data in the social sciences. Doing Focus Groups provides practical advice on planning and organizing successful groups. Rose Barbour discusses the advantages and limitations of using group discussion and demonstrates effective methods for collecting and analysing data.

Genres: Academic

168 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

See also Rosaline S. Barbour

Reviews

[Titus Hjelm · Rating 3 out of 5]

An informative, if somewhat dry intro to focus groups. The problem of splitting qualitative research into different techniques is apparent here, as the epistemological and theoretical underpinnings of research are given only a gloss. No problem for the advanced researcher, but a beginner would find this challenging. Bonus points for a healthy attitude towards 'grounded theory'--probably the most abused term in social science.

[Kenny Oyama · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm a quantitative researcher by training, so I wanted to feel prepared when my new job asked me to do some qualitative project management. I picked this book up and felt that it was too 'academic' in its approach to teaching one how to moderate focus groups. This is not a handbook that you'll reference on the job. This is a book that teaches you the higher-level goals of focus groups, which--in my opinion, at least--doesn't deliver on its title.

I guess it's on-the-job training for me.