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Focus Group
There are a number of different types of interviews in sociology, and one is a group interview or focus group, where the researcher talks to a group of people at the same time, rather than discussing with individuals. The aim in bringing together a focus group is for the group to be representative of a larger population, so there will be some diversity in the group, perhaps achieved through a stratified or quota sample. The researcher can then facilitate the group to focus on a particular issue or subject.
An advantage of this is that the onus is not entirely on the researcher to raise questions, the group will interact with each other and spark off ideas, producing more data and a different kind of data.
A disadvantage is that there is likely to be peer pressure with people often conforming with the majority view in the group, or else disagreeing just to play devil's advocate, rather than giving their own views.
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Research Methods - Interviews
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Research Methods - "Card Drop" activity
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