Disadvantages Of Focus Group Interview

Focus group interview:

A small group discussion about some research topic led by a moderator who guides discussion among participants is termed as a focus group interview.

A focus group is, according to Lederman is ‘a technique involving the use of in-depth group interviews in which participants are selected because they are a purposive, although not necessarily representative, sampling of a specific population, this group being ‘focused’ on a given topic’. Participants in this type of research are, therefore, selected on the criteria that they would have something to say on the topic, are within the age-range, have similar socio-characteristics and would be comfortable talking to the interviewer and each other.

A focus group is a small group

Begin by transcribing all focus group tapes and inserting notes into transcribed material where appropriate. Clean up transcripts by stripping off nonessential words. The data must be very carefully entered into the excel sheet such that the data must be compiled, analyzed and synthesized.

ADVANTAGES OF USING FOCUS GROUPS

• Takes advantage of the fact that people naturally interact and are influenced by others

• May be one of the few research tools available for obtaining data from children or from individuals who are not particularly literate

• Provide data more quickly and at lower cost than if individuals interviewed separately; groups can be assembled on shorter notice than for a more systematic survey.

• Generally requires less preparation and is comparatively easy to conduct.

• Researcher can interact directly with respondents (allows clarification, follow-up questions, probing). Can gain information from non-verbal responses to supplement (or even contradict) verbal responses.

• Data uses respondents' own words; can obtain deeper levels of meaning, make important connections, identify subtle nuances

• Very flexible; can be used with wide range of topics, individuals, and