Developing Focus Group Research: Politics, Theory and Practice [Paperback]

Rosaline Barbour (Editor), Jenny Kitzinger (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0761955682 | ISBN-13: 978-0761955689 | Publication Date: February 22, 1999 | Edition: 1

This book critically examines the potential of, and suggests ways forward in, harnessing a versatile and powerful method of research - focus groups. The book challenges some of the emerging orthodoxies and presents accessible, insightful and reflective discussions about the issues around focus group work.

The contributors, an impressive group of experienced researchers from a range of disciplines and traditions, discuss different ways of designing, conducting and analyzing focus group research. They examine sampling strategies; the implications of combining focus groups with other methods; accessing views of `minority' groups; their contribution to participatory or feminist research; use of software packages; discourse anal

Editorial Reviews

Review

`If you are considering focus group methodology in your own research this will provide you with a good starting point taking you through the epistemological and political issues of such research in process' - European Journal of Communication

About the Author

Interests

Current research spans both of the School’s programmes and includes work with colleagues in Dundee and Bristol on developing an intervention for weight loss part partum and understanding the reasons for suboptimal uptake of folic acid. A personal programme of work is concerned with the sociology of recovery and involves research into young adult cancer patients’ concerns about future fertility (with colleagues from Aberdeen), reintegration after stroke, and the long-term outcomes for women who have experienced post partum psychosis (with colleagues at St.Andrews).

Her research career has covered a wide variety of topics located at the intersection of the clinical and the social - e.g. HIV/AIDS; reproductive health and fertility; psychosocial health; and obesity. Rose’s theoretical interests centre around the links between identity and agency, and implications for health promotion and clinical practice. Rose has a particular interest in rigour in qualitative research and has published widely on this topic in a range of academic journals. Reflecting her conviction that qualitative research is a craft skill, Rose has developed an innovative series of ‘hands-on’ qualitative methods workshops. She has been invited to present these workshops throughout the UK, in Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Switzerland, France, the US and Canada. She co-edited Developing Focus Group Research: Politics, Theory and Practice (Sage, 1999). Her most recent books - Introducing Qualitative Research: A Student Guide to the Craft of Doing Qualitative Research (Sage, 2008) and Doing Focus Groups (Sage, 2008) - bring together and share the expertise she has developed through running workshops for a variety of audiences over the past 15 years.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Sage Publications Ltd; 1 edition (February 22, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0761955682
• ISBN-13: 978-0761955689
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,612,011 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Resource, July 13, 2011

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Dr Kat Gallagher - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Developing Focus Group Research: Politics, Theory and Practice (Paperback)

I found this text to be quite helpful in developing my own research. Easy to use, concise, and practical, I would recommend this text to anyone who is considering focus research.