Focus Groups
Getting Started with Focus Groups
Read
Green, J. and Thorogood, N. (2014). Qualitative methods for health research. Los Angeles: Sage. Chapter 5: Group Interviews
Tachine, A.R., Yellow Bird, E., Cabrera, N.L. (2016). Sharing Circles: An indigenous methodological approach for researching with groups of indigenous peoples. International Review of Qualitative Research, 9 (3), 277–295. DOI: 10.1525/irqr.2016.9.3.277
Hunt, S. C., & Young, N. L. (2021). Blending Indigenous Sharing Circle and Western Focus Group Methodologies for the Study of Indigenous Children’s Health: A Systematic Review. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 20, 16094069211015112. (access article via publisher)
Optional:
Sheehan, L.L, Corrigan, P.W., Al-Khouja, M.A., and Stigma of Suicide Research Team (2017). Stakeholder perspectives on the stigma of suicide attempt survivors. Crisis, 38(2), 73-81. DOI: 10.1027/0227-5910/a000413
This reading is an example of how focus group methodology is used and written up in an academic journal.
Focus Groups in Market Research
Fun overview about the history of focus groups; particularly appropriate for market research applications, but it's great for getting a general hand-hold on what focus groups are.
Focus Groups in Health Research
This video applies focus groups to health research and gives some important considerations when planning and moderating a focus group. (Note: you can increase or decrease the playback speed, up to 2x by clicking on settings).
Applied Example in Oregon
Understanding Cancer Risk: Healthy Oregon Project
With science advances, we're now able to test for specific genetic markers that are associated with increased risk for cancer. Such tests are known as "predictive cancer genetic testing" and are being offered at no cost to Oregonians through the Healthy Oregon Project. Statewide focus groups were used to understand public perceptions of predictive genetic testing. These results were used to develop educational materials to help Oregonians better understand the testing process and how to participate in the no-cost study.
Learn more:
Alvord, T. W., Marriott, L. K., Nguyen, P. T., Shafer, A., Brown, K., Stoller, W., Volpi, J., Vandehey, J., Ferrara, L., Blakesley, S., Solomon, E, Kuehl, H, Palma, A, Farris, P, Cotter, M., and J. Shannon (2020). Public perception of predictive cancer genetic testing and research in Oregon. Journal of Genetic Counseling, 29(2), 259-281. https://doi.org/10.1002/jgc4.1262
These focus groups informed how the study recruited and engaged Oregonians in genetic testing research:
- O’Brien, T.D., Potter, A.B., Driscoll, C., Goh, G., Letaw, J.H., McCabe, S., Thanner, J. , Kulkarni, A., Wong, R. , Medica, S., Weeks, T. , Buitrago, J., Larson, A., Johnson Camacho, K., Brown, K., Crist, R., Conrad, C., Evans-Dutson, S., Lutz, R., Mitchell, A., Anur, P., Serrato, V., Shafer, V., Marriott, L.K., Hamman, K.J., Mulford, A., Wiszniewski, W., Sampson, J., Adey, A., O’Roak, B., Harrington, C., Shannon, J., Spellman, P.T., and C. S. Richards. (2023). Population screening shows inherited cancer and familial hypercholesterolemia prevalence in Oregon. American Journal of Human Genetics, 110, 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajhg.2023.06.014
- Zhang, Z., Shafer, A., Johnson-Camacho, K., Adey, A., Anur, P., Bainbridge, J., Brown, K., Conrad, C., Crist, R., Farris, P., Harrington, C., Marriott, L., Mitchell, A., O'Roak, B., Serrato, V., Richards, S., Spellman, P., and Shannon, J. (2024). Novel recruitment approaches and operational results for a state-wide population cohort for cancer research - the Healthy Oregon Project. Journal of Clinical and Translational Science, in press.