Maintaining your focus in focus groups: Avoiding common mistakes
Open Access
- 18 March 2005
- journal article
- review article
- Published by Wiley in Research in Nursing & Health
- Vol. 28 (2) , 172-179
Abstract
Focus groups are used frequently in nursing research as a method for collecting qualitative data. However, due to inadequate planning or execution, the results can be of poor quality or even worthless. A well‐defined purpose, carefully planned environment, and well trained personnel are discussed as the cornerstones to focus group success. This article sets the stage with a description of a well conducted focus group, then provides examples and a critique of less‐than‐effective groups. Focus groups can be powerful and effective when their use is appropriate to the study purpose, the environment is non‐judgmental and welcoming, and the personnel are skilled. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. Res Nurs Health 28:172–179, 2005Keywords
Funding Information
- NIH, NINR (to DMB) (NR ROI-008194)
This publication has 8 references indexed in Scilit:
- Maximizing results with focus groups: Moderator and analysis issuesApplied Nursing Research, 2001
- A guide to the use of focus groups in health care research: Part 1Contemporary Nurse, 2000
- A guide to the use of focus groups in health care research: Part 2Contemporary Nurse, 2000
- Getting the Focus and the Group: Enhancing Analytical Rigor in Focus Group ResearchQualitative Health Research, 2000
- Focus group.2000
- Practical Advice for Planning and Conducting Focus GroupsNursing Research, 1999
- Conducting Effective Focus Groups in the Context of Diversity: Theoretical Underpinnings and Practical ImplicationsQualitative Health Research, 1998
- Focus Groups as Qualitative Research1997