Focus Group Discussions

by Monique M. Hennink

Overview

The Understanding Research series focuses on the process of writing up social research. The series is broken down into three categories: Understanding Statistics, Understanding Measurement, and Understanding Qualitative Research. The books provide researchers with guides to understanding, writing, and evaluating social research. Each volume demonstrates how research should be represented, including how to write up the methodology as well as the research findings. Each volume also reviews how to appropriately evaluate published research.

Focus Group Discussions addresses the challenges associated with conducting and writing focus group research. It provides detailed guidance on the practical and theoretical considerations in conducting focus group discussions including: designing the discussion guide, recruiting participants, training a field team, moderating techniques and ethical considerations. Monique Hennink describes how a methodology section is read and evaluated by others, such as journal reviewers or thesis advisors. She provides readers with guidance on specific aspects of presenting research findings, such structuring narrative accounts, developing an argument, using quotations, reporting focus group interaction, visual presentation formats, and strategies for grounding study results. She describes the challenges in assessing focus groups and details practical strategies for assessing scientific rigor. The book includes case study examples of field research across a range of disciplines and international contexts. Hennink concludes the volume with an overview of current debates relating to the evaluation of qualitative research, suggesting ways to critique the research design, methodology and results of focus group research.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780199856169
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	01/14/2014
Series:	Understanding Qualitative Research
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	230
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Monique M. Hennink, Ph.D., Associate Professor at the Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University. Her research focuses on social, cultural and contextual influences on health behavior and behavior change, particularly in developing country settings and amongst minority populations. She teaches graduate courses in qualitative research methods and leads research training workshops worldwide.

Table of Contents

Contents

Acknowledgements

Chapter 1 Introducing Focus Group Discussions

Chapter 2 Designing and Conducting Focus Group Research

Chapter 3 Writing Focus Group Methods

Chapter 4 Writing Focus Group Results

Chapter 5 Assessing Focus Group Research

Chapter 6 Further Reading and Resources

References

Index

Editorial Reviews

"This is a unique book in a series that focuses on social research. It contains much useful information about conducting research using focus groups." —Michalene A. King, PhD, RN, CNE, Doody's Health Sciences Book Review

"For anyone interested in a serious discussion of the many facets of the qualitative report, an excellent resource is Focus Group Discussions by Monique Hennink (2014, Oxford University Press as part of their Understanding Qualitative Research series edited by Patricia Leavy). Although the book is centered on the focus group method, the chapters devoted to reporting offer relevant and useful guidance regardless of the qualitative approach…. Importantly, Hennink discusses the crucial role of context in the reporting of both methods and results. In line with the qualitative research mantra "context is everything," Hennink encourages the researcher to report contextual details that potentially influenced the method(s) chosen and the research findings, thereby adding a depth of meaning by which users of the research are able to fully understand all aspects of the study.

There are many ways the qualitative researcher can discuss context. Context can be discussed with respect to: circumstances that impacted the choice of research method, participants (their sociocultural background), the research environment(s), and the researcher (i.e., reflexivity). Although the level of reporting advocated by Hennink is at the academic level, there are important lessons here for all qualitative researchers. Qualitative reporting requires a thorough and thoughtful process, one that communicates the richness of the qualitative approach and ultimately maximizes the Usefulness of the outcomes." —Research Design Review

From the Publisher

Reviewer: Michalene A King, PhD, RN, CNE (Robert Morris University)
Description: This book begins with an introduction to focus groups and finishes with how to assess focus group research.
Purpose: Although the author does not discuss the purpose of the book, she notes that the purpose of focus group research is "to identify a range of perspectives on a research topic and to gain an understanding of issues from the perspective of the participants themselves."
Audience: One in a series of research books, this one is geared to researchers who want to use focus groups for data collection. The author has conducted and taught qualitative research methods for many years.
Features: The book begins with an explanation of focus group research and discusses all aspects of using this type of research methodology. The chapter on assessing focus group research is unique, as this is an area that is not typically covered well. One shortcoming is the lack of a statement of purpose, which leaves readers wondering what the author set out to accomplish.
Assessment: This is a unique book in a series that focuses on social research. It contains much useful information about conducting research using focus groups.

Doody's Review Service