An Introduction to Focus Group Research

A focus group refers to a group of people who share some common characteristics. A researcher gathers these people in the group in order that they share their points of view and interact with each other over a specific issue. Focus group and Interview group are used interchangeably in the scientific literature and both refer to a method of collecting data in qualitative studies. Given the important role of a focus group in determining knowledge, attitude and performance of its members, the aim of the present article is therefore to provide some basic guidelines in conducting such a group