Revisiting the use of focus group in social research
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Abstract
The methodological reflections on focus groups presented in this article draw from a research project on middle-class people living in Metropolitan Buenos Aires. The study addresses health discourses and practices in the contemporary scenario characterized by the diversification of specialists, the growing media coverage of recommendations of healthy living and wellbeing, the implementation of public policies on health promotion, and the expansion of the industry of related products and services. The objective of the article is to reflect, based on our fieldwork experience, on two aspects that have received special attention in the recent methodological literature: the criteria to compose the groups and their consequences on the conversational dynamic, and the strategies to account for the group interaction in data analysis. Included in the latter, we explore the potential of GF research to observe health identity work. We frame our study and the decisions about design issues into the current debates on the variety of uses of the research group methodology.
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Freidin, B. (2016). Revisiting the use of focus group in social research. Revista Latinoamericana De Metodología De Las Ciencias Sociales (ReLMeCS), 6(1), e004. Retrieved from https://www.relmecs.fahce.unlp.edu.ar/article/view/relmecs_v06n01a04
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References
Asbury, J.E. (1995). Overview of Focus Group Research, Qualitative Health Research, 5 (1): 414-420.
Bamberg, M. (2011). Narrative Practice and Identity Navigation. En: J.Holstein y J.F. Gubrium (Eds,) Varieties in Narrative Analysis. London: Sage.
Bamberg, M. (2010). Who am I? Narration and its contribution to self and identity, Theory and Psychology, 21 (1): 1-22.
Bamberg, M. y Georgakopoulou, A. (2008). Small stories as a new perspective in narrative and identity analysis, Text &Talk, 28:3: 377-396.
Bourdieu, P. (1984). La distinción: Criterios y bases sociales del gusto. Madrid: Taurus.
Bourdieu, P. y L. Wacquant (2008). Una invitación a la sociología reflexiva, Buenos Aires: Siglo XXI.
Callero, P.L. (2003). The Sociology of the Self, Annual Review of Sociology, 29:115-133.
Calnan, M. y Williams, S. (1991). Style of life and the salience of health: an exploratory study of health-related practices in households from differing socio-economic circumstances, Sociology of Health and Illness, 13 (4): 506-529.
Carey, M.A. (1995). Concerns in the analysis of focus group data, Qualitative Health Research, 5 (1): 487-495.
Carey, M.A. y Asbury, J.E. (2012). Focus Group Research, Walnut Greek: Left Coast Press.
Crawford, R. (2006). Health as a meaningful social practice. Health, 10 (4), 401- 420.
Denzin, N. y Lincoln, Y. (2005). Introduction: the discipline and practice of qualitative research. En: N. K. Denzin & Y. S. Lincoln (Comp.) The Sage Handbook of Qualitative Research. Third Edition. Thousand Oaks: Sage. Pp. 1-32.Duggleby, W. (2005). What about Focus Group Interaction?, Qualitative Health Research, 15 (6): 832-840.
Fontana, A. y Frey, J.H. (2005). The interview: From Neutral Stance to Political Involvement. En: Denzin, N. e Y. Lincoln (Ed.) Handbook of Qualitative Research. Third Edition. Londres: Sage.
Fox, N. J. y Ward, K. J. (2008). What are health identities and how we may study them?. Sociology of Health and Illness, 30(7): 1007-1021.
Freidin, B. (2015). Medicinas alternativas: conocimiento, visiones y experiencias de utilización”, en B. Freidin (coordinadora) El cuidado de la salud: mandatos culturales, experiencias biográficas y prácticas cotidianas en sectores medios de Buenos Aires. Buenos Aires: Imago Mundi (en prensa).
Freidin, B. (2000). Los límites de la solidaridad. Buenos Aires: Lumiere.
Freidin, B y Timmermans, S. (2008). Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Children’s Asthma: Satisfaction, Care Provider Responsiveness, and Networks of Care. Qualitative Health Research. 18, 43-55.
Giddens, A. (1995). La constitución de la sociedad. Bases para la Teoría de la estructuración, Bs As, Amorrortu.
Giddens, A. (1991). Modernity and Self-Identity, Stanford: Stanford University Press.
Gil Flores, J., García Jiménez, E. y Rodriguez Gómez, G. (1994). El análisis de los datos obtenidos en la investigación mediante grupos de discusión, Enseñanza, XII: 183-199.
Hollander, J. (2004). The social contexts of focus groups, Journal of Contemporary Ethnography, 33(5): 602-637.
Johnson, A. (1996). It´s Good to Talk: The Focus Group and the Sociological Imagination, The Sociological Review, 516-537.
Kamberelis, G. y Demitriadis, G. (2013). Focus Groups: From structures interviews to collective conversations. London: Routledge.
Kitzinger, J. (1994). The methodology of Focus Groups: the importance of interaction between research participants. Sociology of Health and Illness, 16(1): 103-121.
Krueger, R.A. (1995). The Future of Focus Groups, Qualitative Health Research, 5(4): 524-530.
Krueger, R.A. (1988) Focus Group: A Practical Guide for Applied Research, London: Sage.
Liamputtong, P. (2011). Focus Group Methodology: Principles and Practice. London: Sage.
Lunt, P. y Livingstone, S. (1996). Rethinking the Focus Groups in Media and Communication Research, Journal of Communications 46(2): 79-98.
Lupton D. (1996). Food, the body, and the self. London: SAGE.
Madriz, E. (2000) Focus groups in feminist research. En N.K Denzin & Y.S. Lincoln (Eds.) Handbook of qualittaive research (2nd edition). Thounsand Oaks: Sage.
Menéndez, E.L. (2009). De sujetos, saberes, y estructuras, Buenos Aires: Lugar Editorial.
Melucci, A. (1996). The Playing Self: Person and Meaning in the Planetary Society. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Mella, O. (2000) Grupos focales (“focus groups”). Técnica de Investigación cualitativa. Documento de Trabajo N° 3, CIDE, Santiago, Chile.
Morgan, D.L. (2010). Reconsidering the Role of Interaction in Analyzing and Reporting Focus Groups, Qualitative Health Research, 20(5): 718-722.
Morgan, D.L. (1995). Why things (Sometimes) Go Wrong in Foucs Groups?, Qualitative Health Research, 5(4): 516-523.
Morgan, D.L. (1993). Future Directions for Focus Groups, en D.L. Morgan (Comp.) Successful Focus Groups: Advancing the State of the Art, Newbery Park: Sage. Pp. 225-244.
Morgan, D.L y Bottorf, J. L. (2010). Advancing Our Craft: Focus Group Methods and Practice, Qualitative Health Research, 20 (5): 579-581.
Morgan, D.L. y Krueger, R.A. (1993). When to use Focus Groups and Why?, en D.L. Morgan (Comp.) Successful Focus Groups: Advancing the State of the Art, Newbery Park: Sage. Pp.3-19.
Padilla, R. (1993). Using Dialogical Research Methods in Group Interviews, Successful Focus Groups: Advancing the State of the Art, Newbery Park: Sage. Pp. 153-166.
Pescosolido, B. (1991). Illness Careers and Network Ties: A Conceptual Model of Utilization and Compliance. Advances in Medical Sociology, 2, 161-184.
Sautu, R. (2011). El análisis de las clases sociales: teorías y metodologías. Buenos Aires: Luxemburg.
Sharma, U. (1996). Using Complementary Therapies: A challenge to Orthodox medicine?. En Williams, S. y Calnan, M. (Eds.) Modern Medicine: Lay Perspectives and Experiences. London: UCL Press.
Valles, M. (1997). Técnicas cualitativas de investigación social. Reflexión metodológica y práctica profesional. Madrid: Síntesis.
Wellman, B. (2000). Who Helps When You Are Sick?. En: Kellner, M. y Wellman, B. (Eds.). Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Amsterdam: Harwood.
Williams, S. (1995). Theorising class, health and lifestyles: can Bourdieu help us?, Sociology of health and illness, 17(5): 577-604.
Williams, S. J. y Calnan, M. (1996). The 'Limits' of Medicalization?: Modern Medicine and The Lay Populace in 'Late' Modernity", Social Sciences and Medicine, 42, 12, 1609-1620.
Bamberg, M. (2011). Narrative Practice and Identity Navigation. En: J.Holstein y J.F. Gubrium (Eds,) Varieties in Narrative Analysis. London: Sage.
Bamberg, M. (2010). Who am I? Narration and its contribution to self and identity, Theory and Psychology, 21 (1): 1-22.
Bamberg, M. y Georgakopoulou, A. (2008). Small stories as a new perspective in narrative and identity analysis, Text &Talk, 28:3: 377-396.
Bourdieu, P. (1984). La distinción: Criterios y bases sociales del gusto. Madrid: Taurus.
Bourdieu, P. y L. Wacquant (2008). Una invitación a la sociología reflexiva, Buenos Aires: Siglo XXI.
Callero, P.L. (2003). The Sociology of the Self, Annual Review of Sociology, 29:115-133.
Calnan, M. y Williams, S. (1991). Style of life and the salience of health: an exploratory study of health-related practices in households from differing socio-economic circumstances, Sociology of Health and Illness, 13 (4): 506-529.
Carey, M.A. (1995). Concerns in the analysis of focus group data, Qualitative Health Research, 5 (1): 487-495.
Carey, M.A. y Asbury, J.E. (2012). Focus Group Research, Walnut Greek: Left Coast Press.
Crawford, R. (2006). Health as a meaningful social practice. Health, 10 (4), 401- 420.
Denzin, N. y Lincoln, Y. (2005). Introduction: the discipline and practice of qualitative research. En: N. K. Denzin & Y. S. Lincoln (Comp.) The Sage Handbook of Qualitative Research. Third Edition. Thousand Oaks: Sage. Pp. 1-32.Duggleby, W. (2005). What about Focus Group Interaction?, Qualitative Health Research, 15 (6): 832-840.
Fontana, A. y Frey, J.H. (2005). The interview: From Neutral Stance to Political Involvement. En: Denzin, N. e Y. Lincoln (Ed.) Handbook of Qualitative Research. Third Edition. Londres: Sage.
Fox, N. J. y Ward, K. J. (2008). What are health identities and how we may study them?. Sociology of Health and Illness, 30(7): 1007-1021.
Freidin, B. (2015). Medicinas alternativas: conocimiento, visiones y experiencias de utilización”, en B. Freidin (coordinadora) El cuidado de la salud: mandatos culturales, experiencias biográficas y prácticas cotidianas en sectores medios de Buenos Aires. Buenos Aires: Imago Mundi (en prensa).
Freidin, B. (2000). Los límites de la solidaridad. Buenos Aires: Lumiere.
Freidin, B y Timmermans, S. (2008). Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Children’s Asthma: Satisfaction, Care Provider Responsiveness, and Networks of Care. Qualitative Health Research. 18, 43-55.
Giddens, A. (1995). La constitución de la sociedad. Bases para la Teoría de la estructuración, Bs As, Amorrortu.
Giddens, A. (1991). Modernity and Self-Identity, Stanford: Stanford University Press.
Gil Flores, J., García Jiménez, E. y Rodriguez Gómez, G. (1994). El análisis de los datos obtenidos en la investigación mediante grupos de discusión, Enseñanza, XII: 183-199.
Hollander, J. (2004). The social contexts of focus groups, Journal of Contemporary Ethnography, 33(5): 602-637.
Johnson, A. (1996). It´s Good to Talk: The Focus Group and the Sociological Imagination, The Sociological Review, 516-537.
Kamberelis, G. y Demitriadis, G. (2013). Focus Groups: From structures interviews to collective conversations. London: Routledge.
Kitzinger, J. (1994). The methodology of Focus Groups: the importance of interaction between research participants. Sociology of Health and Illness, 16(1): 103-121.
Krueger, R.A. (1995). The Future of Focus Groups, Qualitative Health Research, 5(4): 524-530.
Krueger, R.A. (1988) Focus Group: A Practical Guide for Applied Research, London: Sage.
Liamputtong, P. (2011). Focus Group Methodology: Principles and Practice. London: Sage.
Lunt, P. y Livingstone, S. (1996). Rethinking the Focus Groups in Media and Communication Research, Journal of Communications 46(2): 79-98.
Lupton D. (1996). Food, the body, and the self. London: SAGE.
Madriz, E. (2000) Focus groups in feminist research. En N.K Denzin & Y.S. Lincoln (Eds.) Handbook of qualittaive research (2nd edition). Thounsand Oaks: Sage.
Menéndez, E.L. (2009). De sujetos, saberes, y estructuras, Buenos Aires: Lugar Editorial.
Melucci, A. (1996). The Playing Self: Person and Meaning in the Planetary Society. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Mella, O. (2000) Grupos focales (“focus groups”). Técnica de Investigación cualitativa. Documento de Trabajo N° 3, CIDE, Santiago, Chile.
Morgan, D.L. (2010). Reconsidering the Role of Interaction in Analyzing and Reporting Focus Groups, Qualitative Health Research, 20(5): 718-722.
Morgan, D.L. (1995). Why things (Sometimes) Go Wrong in Foucs Groups?, Qualitative Health Research, 5(4): 516-523.
Morgan, D.L. (1993). Future Directions for Focus Groups, en D.L. Morgan (Comp.) Successful Focus Groups: Advancing the State of the Art, Newbery Park: Sage. Pp. 225-244.
Morgan, D.L y Bottorf, J. L. (2010). Advancing Our Craft: Focus Group Methods and Practice, Qualitative Health Research, 20 (5): 579-581.
Morgan, D.L. y Krueger, R.A. (1993). When to use Focus Groups and Why?, en D.L. Morgan (Comp.) Successful Focus Groups: Advancing the State of the Art, Newbery Park: Sage. Pp.3-19.
Padilla, R. (1993). Using Dialogical Research Methods in Group Interviews, Successful Focus Groups: Advancing the State of the Art, Newbery Park: Sage. Pp. 153-166.
Pescosolido, B. (1991). Illness Careers and Network Ties: A Conceptual Model of Utilization and Compliance. Advances in Medical Sociology, 2, 161-184.
Sautu, R. (2011). El análisis de las clases sociales: teorías y metodologías. Buenos Aires: Luxemburg.
Sharma, U. (1996). Using Complementary Therapies: A challenge to Orthodox medicine?. En Williams, S. y Calnan, M. (Eds.) Modern Medicine: Lay Perspectives and Experiences. London: UCL Press.
Valles, M. (1997). Técnicas cualitativas de investigación social. Reflexión metodológica y práctica profesional. Madrid: Síntesis.
Wellman, B. (2000). Who Helps When You Are Sick?. En: Kellner, M. y Wellman, B. (Eds.). Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Amsterdam: Harwood.
Williams, S. (1995). Theorising class, health and lifestyles: can Bourdieu help us?, Sociology of health and illness, 17(5): 577-604.
Williams, S. J. y Calnan, M. (1996). The 'Limits' of Medicalization?: Modern Medicine and The Lay Populace in 'Late' Modernity", Social Sciences and Medicine, 42, 12, 1609-1620.