SOAN 3070 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Georg Simmel, Focus Group, General Idea

• School: University of Guelph
• Department: Sociology and Anthropology
• Course: SOAN 3070
• Professor: Anna Borisenkova

Document Summary

Levels of focus groups: two participants (dyads, 3 participants (triads, 4-6 participants ( mini groups", 7-10 more participants ( full focus group") The size of the focus group can have an impact on how individuals respond. Example, some people may feel more comfortable participating in smaller groups, but only to a certain degree. Psychologists find that dyads have the greatest amount of tension. Georg simmel: effects of group size isolated and segmented. As the group becomes greater, the individual becomes separated and grows more alone, On one hand, the bigger the group the better for the individual. In a larger group it would be harder to exert control on an individual. But, on the other hand, there is a possibility of the individual becoming distant and impersonal. 6-12 people is seen as an ideal size for a focus group. Most focus groups last about 90 minutes, and are recorded using both audio and video.