Research Techniques - Focus Groups

A focus group is is research technique that involves a small group of participants to answer questions in a moderated setting.

The group is chosen based off predetermined demographic traits to gain information on a specific topic.

It produces qualitative data meaning that is more descriptive rather than figures/statistics.

Often used in marketing, social science and user research disciplines.


Evaluation

Advantages:

- Can provide more nuanced and natural feedback than individual surveys

- Easier and faster to organise than experiments or large scale surveys 

- Real time unfiltered responses 

- Able to gather directional information


Disadvantages:

- Not as in depth as individual interviews

- Participants may not express real opinion in front of other participants

- More expensive than individual interviews

- Moderator bias - may ask leading questions which can lead to inaccurate results. Participants may also change their answers in order not to offend/ disappoint the moderator


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