Using Focus Groups for Qualitative Research.

The purpose of this paper is to examine focus groups as a qualitative research method. We describe and evaluate the use of focus groups based on three separate research projects: a study of teachers, parents, and children at two urban daycare centers, a study of the responses of second-generation Muslim Americans to the events of September 11, and a collaborative project on the experiences of children and youth following Hurricane Katrina. By examining three diverse projects, we are able to illustrate some of the strengths and challenges of the focus group as a sociological research method. In addition, in this article we provide practical advice regarding the design and implementation of focus groups, including information on participant recruitment, the most effective group size, group composition and issues of segmentation, how to carry out focus groups, and the ideal number of groups to conduct. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]