Focus groups

Jackie Waterfield and Julius Sim

Chapter 13 in Elgar Concise Encyclopedia of Research Methods in the Social Sciences, 2026, pp 92-98 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: Focus groups are an effective means of collecting qualitative data in relation to attitudes, beliefs and perspectives – and the way in which these may be negotiated and modified – within a group context. They may be used as a primary method of data collection in a study or may serve an ancillary role. Focus groups are not an appropriate means of trying to identify a consensus within a group, and any consensus that emerges may simply reflect group dynamics. Although focus groups are similar to one-to-one interviews in a number of respects, their objectives are not equivalent to those of interviews and there are, for example, important differences in terms of how the researcher should interact with participants, the way that data should be analysed and presented, and the approach that should be taken to ethical issues.

Keywords: Focus Groups; Qualitative Research; Data Collection And Analysis; Ethical Issues (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781803921297
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