Advantages and disadvantages of focus groups sociology books

Advantages and disadvantages of focus groups latest mata. Advantages and disadvantages of using questionnaires. Accurate information the facetoface involvement of a qualified moderator means that. What are the advantages and disadvantages of a focus group. Advantages and disadvantages of interview in research. During a focus group, a group of individualsusually 612 peopleis brought together in a room to engage in a guided discussion of a topic. The use of focus groups in social science research focus groups originated in sociology merton and kendall 1946 were primarily used by market researchers in recent years templeton 1987 and are increasingly being used as a research tool in the social sciences. Advantages focus group brings interaction between participants highlights their view of the world. The focus group fg is one of the qualitative research methods to be utilized in the search for answers to such questions. In her recent book on magazine readers, hermes 1995 used not only. In order to discuss these two points, i will focus on the two main characteristics that differentiate the fg from other techniques of information gathering in social research. A focus group is a social setting which involves people with little familiarity to each other. The responses in the interview are can be different what make the analyze very difficult, or it may be no response what can be a serious problem as well. Advantages and disadvantages of biomedical and social.

May 24, 2019 advantages and disadvantages of interview in research may 24, 2019 by sociology group approaching the respondent according to the interviewers manual, the introductory tasks of the interviewer are. However, for the latter to be effective and to deliver reliable information, the interviewer must be highly skilled to prevent data loss. Surveys, advantages and disadvantages of sage research methods. Pdf using focus groups in social research researchgate.

Advantages and disadvantages of synchronous online focus groups. Sage books the ultimate social sciences digital library. We look now at the advantages and disadvantages of each. The term focus group was created by ernest dichter, a famous market expert and psychologist. On one hand, you have the perspective of the data that is being collected. When used as a survey method, the focus group approach presents various pros, strengths and benefits, as well as cons. Dec 01, 2003 focus groups are often underused as a valuable tool for research. The advantages of focus groups can be maximized through careful attention to. The moderators control the discussion as per his or her experience. Jan 23, 2016 focus groups are a type of group interview in which respondents are asked to discuss certain topics.

The third disadvantages of focus groups interview would be the expensive cost of money. Comparisons between focus groups and both surveys and individual interviews help to show the specific advantages and disadvantages of. Advantages and limitations of focus groups howstuffworks. Identify and explain the weaknesses of field research. However, each of these methods presents different advantages and disadvantages. Focus groups have long been used in marketing, urban planning, and other social sciences. Marketing researchers employ a variety of tools, including oneonone interviews, written surveys and polling to track consumer opinion.

Focus groups helps to make participants to be free when answering questions because of the company they keep together while. Advantages of total quality management tqm improves reputation tqm programs have the advantage of improving corporate as well as product reputations in the marketplace, because errors and defective products are discovered much more rapidly than under a nontqm system, and often before they are ever sent to market or found in the hands of the public. The focus group fg technique has been recently rediscovered by social scientists. People tend to be truthful in their replies when you ask them questions directly, therefore focus groups helps to get candid answers when questions are being asked. Focus groups humboldt state university public sociology. Focus groups allow businesses to directly engage with their customers. Focus groups, extensive polling, random interviews these are very costly and timeconsuming to conduct. Start studying advantagesdisadvantages of data collection methods. As said the discussions are controlled by the moderator. These are often called bulletin board focus groups bbfgs, forums, or research communities, and they usually run over a few days. Following are the main advantages of focus group discussion in research.

It has become the subject of important methodological discussions and it is now considered a very innovative research method. Coworkers and friends are more comfortable in voicing views in each others company than on their own with the researcher. Advantagesdisadvantages of data collection methods. The use of focus groups in social science research caroline oates in the social sciences, the focus group is becoming an increasingly frequent technique for interviewing research participants, but despite this recent popularity, there is some uncertainty about what the term focus group actually means. A key market research tool, focus groups are often used in order to gain a better insight into different behaviours and opinions of consumers regarding products, brands and services. Focus groups focus groups are a great way to get input, feedback and dialogue with the potential consumeraudience.

Description a focus group is a form of qualitative research in which a group of people are asked about their perceptions, opinions, beliefs, and attitudes towards a product, service, concept, advertisement, idea, or packaging. These seem appealing because they are the closest online equivalent to facetoface focus groups. This post considers the theoretical, practical and ethical advantages and disadvantages of using social surveys in social research. In a focus group discussion, the interviewer talks to a group of people about their thoughts, opinions, beliefs, and attitudes towards a topic. In some circumstances, a program like affirmative action could promote needed diversity. The disadvantages of focus groups include that responses are unstructured, so their coding and. However, such a widespread use of fg seems to have become a fashionable research technique. The goal of this working paper is to describe potential uses of the focus group, its advantages and disadvantages as a qualitative research method section 2. The next year produced two booklength treatments of focus groups by social. In depth interview advantages and disadvantages wisestep. Social surveys are a quantitative, positivist research method consisting of structured questionnaires and interviews.

Advantages and disadvantages of interview in research may 24, 2019 by sociology group approaching the respondent according to the interviewers manual, the introductory tasks of the interviewer are. But theyre not just expensive to contract, they can be hard to do well or within the proper scope to make the information worth the cost. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Used with all of the above, a focus group is an integral part of gauging public perceptions. Sage business cases real world cases at your fingertips. As long as the disadvantages are equally weighed with the advantages that focus groups provide, the. Sociology is a scientific study which studies social structures in the society viz a viz their influences on humans and how it has shaped human behaviours. However, for the latter to be effective and to deliver reliable information, the interviewer must be highly. Abstract focus group discussion is frequently used as a qualitative approach to. Indepth interviews are a qualitative data collection method that involves direct, oneonone engagement with individual participants. Oct 05, 2017 advantages and disadvantages of focus groups todays market researcher has an embarrassment of tools available to them, yet one research option has stood the test of time the focus group. The pros and cons of focus groups show that there can be a lot of valuable information gathered from this type of survey method. The advantages and disadvantages of group work essay 734 words 3 pages.

This is a type of data collection and varied from structured or standardized interviews. It can be polls, interviews, focus group reports all the types of data you might initiate firsthand for your own purposes, but which was initiated by others and therefore isnt tailored to your project or needs. Working in a group is an effective and powerful way to learn, and is highly relevant to the work type and workplace. This practical and extremely wellwritten guide offers advice on. Preparing focus group question is a complicated task. The use of focus groups in social science research sage. Advantages and disadvantages of biomedical and social models. Focus groups typically involve a moderatorled group discussion with between eight and 10 people. The advantages and disadvantages of qualitative research are quite unique. Indepth interviewing can take place facetoface, or in some cases over the phone. Advantages and disadvantages of research 1469 words bartleby. Focus group is an important research method, here we list the advantages and disadvantages of such research method. Secondary research, however, is data that was collected by others for their own purposes. More information because there is a group of people.

Pdf on jan 1, 2007, smithson j and others published using focus groups in social research find. Identify and explain the strengths of field research. The difference between quality data and data with bias depends on how people are screened and the data is treated. Sociologists and psychologists have used the method since the 1940s e. Start studying advantages and disadvantages of biomedical and social models of health. Advantages and disadvantages of focus groups in research. Now, fg is used intensely in the marketing field, and.

A great moderator of focus groups can understand people and their nonconscious body cues. The goal of this paper is to evaluate the nature of the fg, analyse its advantages and disadvantages and identify the cognitive problems that it helps to face. As with any other method in the academic field, there are various advantages and disadvantages of utilizing surveys. A test to verify the adequacy of focus groups consists of asking how active and easily the participants. Oct 14, 2015 available under creative commonsnoncommercialsharealike 4. The disadvantages and the advantages will be discussed, and furthermore the use of focus groups as a research method against using other research methods will be evaluated. Focus group research has also some disadvantages, making different qualitative research techniques more effective. Advantages and disadvantages of social groups lorecentral. Table 3 performs a comparative analysis of the main advantages and disadvantages that. Participants are typically a group who are similar in some way, such as income, education, or career. Social surveys advantages and disadvantages revisesociology. Sociologists and psychologists have used the method since the.

Its important to speak with your audience before releasing a. We take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of focus groups below. The advantages of focus groups can be maximized through careful attention to research design issues at both the project and the group level. If the focus groups provide advantages, it also provides some of the disadvantages. Many businesses are unaware of the kinds of benefits using focus groups can have. Jan 11, 2016 social surveys advantages and disadvantages social surveys are a quantitative, positivist research method consisting of structured questionnaires and interviews. Focus groups are a form of qualitative research that is commonly used in product marketing and marketing research, but it is a popular method within sociology as well. Although it is considered that in the balance between benefits and disadvantages the former have more weights than the latter among other things because we depend on social relationships to survive, it is true that belonging to a group also has its negative elements. From factual to opinionbased, check boxes for openend responses, whatever form they are in, questionnaires are often regarded to be a quick and easytodo medium for researchers and lecturers alike. A growing literature on the setting up and running of focus groups for social. Advantages and disadvantages of using questionnaires examples. Advantages and disadvantages of focus groups todays market researcher has an embarrassment of tools available to them, yet one research option has stood the test of time the focus group.

Surveys, advantages and disadvantages of sage research. Sage video bringing teaching, learning and research to life. Advantages and disadvantages of working in groups essay. However, each of these methods presents different advantages and disadvantages and researchers should consider context. Advantages and disadvantages of using questionnaires questionnaires are used differently in various fields. Focus group discussion is perceived to be a costeffective and promising. Such types of interviews are ones where the respondent receives fixed set of response categories. Here are a few points to highlight the advantages of group learning. What are the advantages and disadvantages of focus groups.

American marketing association and ntc business books. Social science research, and sociological research in particular, is predicated. This is one of the strengths of focus groups their production of rich data. Regardless of the number of focus group discussion meetings, it is important to consider the duration of the meetings. On the other hand, you have the techniques of the data collector and their own unique observations that can alter the information in subtle ways. The use of focus group discussion methodology british ecological. Field research has many benefits, as well as a set of drawbacks.

Advantages of total quality management tqm improves reputation tqm programs have the advantage of improving corporate as well as product reputations in the marketplace, because errors and defective products are discovered much more rapidly than under a nontqm system, and often before they are ever sent to. Sage reference the complete guide for your research journey. The impression is that fg is often adopted without any prior consideration of whether it. Top 16 advantages and disadvantages of working in a group. Students should learn to understand their own conditions to choose the best research method for their study. The advantages and disadvantages of affirmative action show us that promoting diversity can be good, but it should not happen at the expense of others. What are the advantages and disadvantages of focus group. The disadvantages of focus groups include that responses are unstructured, so their coding and analysis is more difficult.

Merton, a sociologist and the associate director of the bureau of applied social research headed the first focus groups in the united states. Questions are asked in an interactive group setting where participants are free to talk with other group members. When used as a survey method, the focus group approach presents various pros, strengths and. The advantages of focus groups can be maximized through. Therefore, issues that people normally do not like to discuss in public may also prove difficult to discuss in a focus group. Focus group discussions are a common qualitative research strategy. Focus group interviews can share characteristics of survey research in that. Focus groups can give you both a broad and indepth overview of reactions to the product, services, or organizational. Secondary research can give you information you may never have the resources to generate yourself.

Sage reference surveys, advantages and disadvantages of. The most basic form of information collection is an ordinary conversation. The more structured the interview, the more rigid the interiew schedule will be. Advantages and disadvantages of in depth interviews.

Being able to work face to face with a range of people, of different demographics can give a more real insight into their opinions and help businesses to get to know their customers better. Pros and cons of field research open textbooks for hong kong. Online focus group advantages and disadvantages mrqual. So, above are some of the advantages of the focus groups. The next year produced two booklength treatments of focus grou. It is an inexpensive and fast method of acquiring valuable data. There are however issues with focus groups that people should be aware of. Focus groups provide some distinct advantages to businesses and researchers. Cq press your definitive resource for politics, policy and people.