PO217 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Focus Group, Participant Observation, Observational Error
Document Summary
Question ordering - making sure you don"t force someone into a position/to respond a certain way. Easy questions at the beginning - goal is to keep controversial or difficult questions to the end - also close with more softer questions to end on a positive note. Summarize your general understandings (is there anything else you would like to add) Complete detailed notes - because you will forget things or you can shift it in your mind. Transcribe recordings - have to have permission (written consent form) Identify characteristics of participants - students/gender - who you want to speak to. Fewer than a dozen (usually more than 6 to have some kind of engagement and discussion) Clarify goals - what the focus is will depend on what people/how many people. Put like with like - homogeneous groups tend to work best. For example when discussing abortion you could have 2 separate groups of male and female and compare their opinions/findings.
