It would help to know what you mean by "athoeretical" -- do you mean that you are not using existing theory, or that you are not trying to create theory?

Either way, focus groups can be used for purely descriptive purposes. In that case, you would have to ask yourself what addition such a narrative study makes to existing knowledge in your field.

Yes, I think that you can use it as an explorative narrative tool, in the very first phase of your research, or during your research when you want to explore some emerging topics

Dear Becky, I think that a better research narrative could be generated by elaborating on the research method of focus group and creating a PAR (Participation Action Research). The PAR is known form of experimental research that relatively to the focus group has a bigger group of participants, an ongoing interaction configuration and a much more deliberative communication. Please find few references regarding PAR: Dick, 2004; McNiff, 2006; Reason and Bradbury, 2001; Reason and Bradbury, 2001; Warren et al., 1995.