Using Focus Groups to Explore Contemporary Issues: Impacts on Participants
Location
DeSantis Room 3029
Format Type
Plenary
Format Type
Paper
Start Date
16-1-2020 8:45 AM
End Date
16-1-2020 9:05 AM
Abstract
Focus groups can be used as a means of exploring contemporary issues and helping people engage with topics that impact their communities and personal lives. Deliberative Dialogues are a way to use focus groups to help people discuss contemporary issues that are “wicked problems” (Rittel & Weber, 1973). They are conversations where people can express diverse views on an issue and search for common ground for action (National Issues Forums Institute, 2014).
Participating in focus groups can influence people in various ways. Freire noted that dialogue is collective reflection or action in which is found great power for participants (1970/2008). He discussed the critical thinking and empowerment that can be generated in participants through focus groups. In this study I explored what outcomes can occur through participation in focus groups.
Students in my Current Trends and Issues course participated in Deliberative Dialogue focus groups weekly throughout the semester. They completed three writing projects where they reflected on the deliberative dialogue process and their engagement in the weekly focus groups (n = 25). I conducted a qualitative text analysis (Kohlbacher, 2006) of the students’ writing projects.
Results indicated several outcomes students experienced through focus group participation. Outcomes included developing communication skills (active listening, civil discourse), developing critical thinking skills and their own world view, and increases in openness, empathy, and confidence. Students indicated that participation in the collaborative focus groups empowered them to further engage in discussions of social issues and become more civically engaged.
Keywords
focus group, qualitative research, deliberative dialogue
Using Focus Groups to Explore Contemporary Issues: Impacts on Participants
DeSantis Room 3029
Focus groups can be used as a means of exploring contemporary issues and helping people engage with topics that impact their communities and personal lives. Deliberative Dialogues are a way to use focus groups to help people discuss contemporary issues that are “wicked problems” (Rittel & Weber, 1973). They are conversations where people can express diverse views on an issue and search for common ground for action (National Issues Forums Institute, 2014).
Participating in focus groups can influence people in various ways. Freire noted that dialogue is collective reflection or action in which is found great power for participants (1970/2008). He discussed the critical thinking and empowerment that can be generated in participants through focus groups. In this study I explored what outcomes can occur through participation in focus groups.
Students in my Current Trends and Issues course participated in Deliberative Dialogue focus groups weekly throughout the semester. They completed three writing projects where they reflected on the deliberative dialogue process and their engagement in the weekly focus groups (n = 25). I conducted a qualitative text analysis (Kohlbacher, 2006) of the students’ writing projects.
Results indicated several outcomes students experienced through focus group participation. Outcomes included developing communication skills (active listening, civil discourse), developing critical thinking skills and their own world view, and increases in openness, empathy, and confidence. Students indicated that participation in the collaborative focus groups empowered them to further engage in discussions of social issues and become more civically engaged.