Meet Beth Robertson, a PgR student researching Disaster Risk Reduction practices and the education system in Anguilla using semi-structured interviews and focus groups

Focus groups are a qualitative research method which involve gathering a group of participants, typically ranging from around 5-8 people in size, to generate discussion and garner their perspectives on a specific issue. Good practice indicates there should be at least one moderator facilitating the discussion and then ideally at least one note-taker within the room during the focus group session. The moderator’s role is primarily to ensure the discussion remains relevant to the topic and to encourage equity of participation from those taking part and deescalating any potential tensions within the group. The moderator can also use prompts and follow-up questions to encourage further elaboration of opinion (Puchta and Potter, 2003). Focus groups typically last between 60-120 minutes, however there are exceptions to this according to the research context.

Benefits of the focus group method include the opportunity to take account of both the dialogue and the interactions between the group through analysis; the interactive nature of this dialogue provides an important insight into various contrasting viewpoints and expose 'every day talk in action' (Hennink and Leavy, 2014; Puchta and Potter, 2003). It can be a useful method for when working with participants where the presence of others will foster ease and comfort. It is also argued that the social presence of others can be a useful way to moderate false or exaggerated opinions and consequently, a more balanced opinion will be generated (Hennink and Leavy, 2014).  Focus groups can also be used as an opportunity for people to share their views with each other and thus be an empowering and productive experience (Puchta and Potter, 2003).

As with all research methods, there are several ethical considerations that arise when using focus groups. An example of this is ensuring participants feel their contributions are equally valid and that no one individual dominates the conversation. Confidentiality and anonymity can also present challenges due to “the researcher’s limited control over what participants may subsequently communicate outside the group” (Sim and Waterfield, 2019).  It is therefore important to think about the sensitivity of topics being discussed and if this is an appropriate method. It is crucial to choose an inclusive environment for the focus group to be conducted; the space chosen should ensure all participants feel equally comfortable expressing opinion (Puchta and Potter, 2003). The selection of participants taking part alongside one another should also be carefully considered and justified, to ensure participants are protected when sharing their opinions.

Detailed descriptions of the focus group method are widely available (Barbour and Morgan, 2017, Carey and Asbury, 2016). An example of how focus group research can support co-production within multidisciplinary projects can be found here.