The main question is:
Is it possible to write an exploratory qualitative paper using only a focus group as research methodolody if the aim of the study is to make emerge spontaneous answers/reflections on a certain macro-topic?
In addition, I would like to know, if the answer of the above questions is "yes", if it can be a good method just to present first insights of a broader work (e.g., a conference proceedings) or if it could be good also for make a submission to a journal (i.e., do journals considered this sort of paper to be eligible for publication?).
Thank you very much in advance!
Marco Valerio
In my opinion the answer is no. I think we hide too many superficial things behind the term qualitative.
Given that you are looking for " ...spontaneous answers/reflections..", I think that you require multiple focus groups in order to achieve saturation of respondents' answers (e.g. you get to a point where respondents are not returning new data in their spontaneous answers/reflections); achieving this point in your research, with just one focus group is, I think, unlikely.
Hi, Marco,
I think the publication potential of a single focus group report will depend substantially on the population of interest. One of my professors was doing research with Hispanic single mothers who used heroin. With such a hidden and unique population, just about anything would be publishable in the social work literature (my field).
Qualitative methodology, like any research methodology, has to be justified by the question you are attempting to answer within the context of all other research that has been done in a domain. Contra Florentina, I do not equate qualitative with superficial, but I am not sure that I would restrict qualitative as narrowly as Philip suggests. Multiple focus groups would be ideal, but may not be feasible.
Good luck!
Qualitative for specific to generalization, exploratory in nature, should start with "Focus Groups" followed by In depth. More than one group (other than the context of Peter). Should continue until it comes to the saturation point in which no new data or variables unearthed. The justification of FG to start with is that the variables unearthed should be incorporated in the interview schedule of In depth.
I think this methodology is suitable for a good qualitative paper (exploratory in nature) to be published in an impact journal. Hope this will be of use.
Dear experts,
thank you very much for offering your valuable points of view.
Marco Valerio
Generally, I stand by my previous post; however, I do agree with Peter, above, that an exception to my generality would be if you were researching a unique population.
In essence, whether one FG would do, depends on what you are researching.
I agree with the others that just one focus group is seldom adequate for a qualitative study, but if you conduct multiple groups, then this is a very common approach to exploratory qualitative research. In particular, it is possible to ask just a few broad questions and hear how the participants respond, from their own perspectives, which allows you to be exploratory without overtly directing the content of the participants' discussion.
But note that the acceptability of any method can differ from field to field, so you should investigate how widely focus groups are used in your own academic area.
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