Focus Group

accession Focus theme is a soft technique expenditure to the highest degreely in marketing look into and in like manner former(a) areas of query. This technique is used to collect ancient info. This document consists of training about pore ag chemical group. The main objective of this assignment was to investigate how focus groups techniques are used to collect primary information about the phenomenon at hand in the real world. The research manner used was Google scholar for pedantic journals.The c angstromus library database was also used for to a greater extent academic journals and textbooks from the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) different libraries. The main problem experience in the completion of this document was that most textbooks about this analyze topic were outdated in the writers c group Aus. Hence, different c group Aereuses of NMMU were visited and the right textbooks were found. This document presents a review of the literature on focu s groups. It continues with an confirmable field of contemplate on organisational corruption in auxiliary schools.Also included, is the reference list of all cited sources as well(p) as an annexure. 2 revolve about GROUPS In the collection of primary data there are cardinal research methods that toilet be of use, quantitative and qualitative methods, which can both be subdivided into idiosyncratic primary data collection methods. Because the main focus of this document is on focus groups, therefore only qualitative techniques go away be menti whizd which are in-depth interviews, projective techniques and focus groups. Seymour (200404) defines focus groups (F.G) as group of interacting individuals having some common affair or characteristics, brought together by a moderator, who uses the group and its interactions as a way to gain information about a specific or focused issue. This technique has been utilised in many an(prenominal) fields to collect primary data as mention ed above and its characteristics are discussed in the following section. 2. 1 CHARACTERISTICS OF FOCUS GROUPS When F. G are considered to be used in a certain research composition thence there are characteristics which have to be taken into account, which are group size, group composition, physiologic setting, moderator, recording tools and length f group banter. Below it is a detailed review on from each one of the above mentioned characteristics of F. G. 2. 1. 1 Group size When determining to embark on F. G one has to regain about the size ( numerate) of that certain F. G. Despite the confusion that can be created by different sources stating a different number of possible group sizes. The research of F. G can be undertaken with a group of 4- 12 people (Tong, Sainsbury & Craig 2007351). Large F. G group size can jeopardise the discussion as it may be difficult to handle the discussion, horizontal so the group size depends on the complexity of the research matter. . 1. 2 Group composition After the group size had been decided then the group composition must be considered as well. All actors taking part in a F. G must be homogeneous in the interest of the studied phenomenon (Malhotra & Birks 2006160). Participants with similar characteristics, which the study is about, make the discussion easier and nicely flowing. 2. 1. 3 Physical setting When choosing the venue to carry out a F. G it is imperative that the chosen venue must also meet the aspects of the phenomenon at hand and of the participants.Daymon and Holloway (2002194) enjoin that choosing the right environment for traditional focus groups plays a vital role as it can decoy freely stub outed opinions from the participants. 2. 1. 4 Moderator In the success of F. G moderators play a vital role. It is of all important(p) role that moderators in F. G keep the environment safe so participants can freely dribble their opinions and most importantly must use probe questions such requires a gr eat experience from the moderator (Hague, P. , Hague, N. & Morgan 200453).Therefore, the moderator ought to possess skills such as creating chemistry with the participants, keep the flow of the discussion and analysing the data collected. 2. 1. 5 record tools No person can be able to cram exactly a discussion of oer 20 minutes by his head some points will certainly be missed. Wiid & Diggines (200990) express that sessions should preferably be recorded (both visual and audio) so that the researcher can review the sessions later in order to gain further insights.These tools therefore, assist to keep the already ensured needed data and the data that the moderator was unaware of during the discussion. 2. 1. 6 Length of group discussion When planning F. G it is essential to plan the succession precisely as it may play an impact on the data collected. However, just like group sizes, length of F. G depends on the complexity of the issue at hand. The more(prenominal) complex of th e issue is the more the duration of the discussion is required, but if so then breaks must be taken in mingled with to let the participants to enliven and produce successful F. G (Malhotra & Birks 2006161).While on the hand, Seymour (200405) being unambiguous reveals that most focus groups encompass 90 minutes to three hours of discussion. With the above discussed characteristics of F. G considered, then one has to scrutinise the advantages and disadvantages of F. G. The following section discusses the advantages and disadvantages of F. G. 2. 2 ADVANTAGES F. G has its own advantages which can attract this technique to be used. These advantages are discussed individually beneath. Cost- because discussions are done simultaneously then it reduces the cost (Wiid & Diggines 200991).Speed- because a number of individuals are being interviewed at the same time, data collection and analysis proceeds speedily (Gerber-Nel, Nel & Kotze 2003104). Synergy- a discussion with a number of participants can also be of help by generating more information than one-on-one interviews (University of Toronto UT 200202). Snowball- Malhotra & Birks (2006162) state that a bandwagon effect often operates in a group discussion in that one persons comment triggers a chain reaction from the other respondents.In elaboration, a comment from one of the participants may reveal an idea to some other participant(s). Scientific scrutiny- because the moderator is also in the venue of discussion with participants, it also gives the moderator the opportunity to also observe (Malhotra & Birks 2006162). However, disadvantages investigated by the fountain are more than the mentioned above but the above mentioned are those anticipated as most important. 2. 3 DISADVANTAGES Focus groups have advantages which can jeopardise the collected data or the data collection mathematical operation itself.These advantages are explained below. Misjudgement- Gerber-Nel et al (2003104) utter that result s are misinterpreted due to bias. Non representative sample- because of the small number of participants in total as compared to quantitative, therefore participants in F. G cannot represent any population (Wiid & Diggines 200991). equivocal results- the results of F. G only retort to what but not why which can sometimes make the trap and create a need for a quantitative research study (Gerber-Nel et al 2003104).Difficulty in analysing- this method mostly consists of words which make it more difficult to analyse (Grudens-Schuck, Allen & Larson 20049). 2. 4 WHEN TO USE FOCUS GROUPS With the above discussed sections it is also vital for one to know when to utilise F. G. Focus groups are mostly used to discover behaviour, perceptions, attitudes and processes (Hague et al 200450). These traits that F. G are used to discover which responds to the question of when to use focus groups? , which in respond will be, F.G can be used in stand alone method, supplementary to a survey and as a part of multi method design (Daymon & Hollower 2002188). The following section will discuss the use of F. G in the study of organisational corruption in second-string schools in bomb and the information provided is based on annexure A. 3 FOCUS GROUP STUDY ON ORGANISATIONAL CORRUPTION IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN ANKARA In Turkey after it was seen that the level of corruption in secondary schools is high, it was then seen important that a study on this problem should be undertaken.The moderator and his assistant decided to use F. G study to identify the perceptions of teachers in capital of Turkey (a city in Turkey). The group sizes of the study were eighter from Decatur and nine respectively, which in total consisted of 17 participants (12 males and 5 females). These participants were chosen due to homogeneous attributes meeting the studied problem, because this study is about secondary schools therefore the participants were critically recruited due to their profession of teac hing. Thereafter, the moderator and his assistant held the F. G in a cosmopolitan city of Turkey known by the name Ankara.Apaydin & Balci (2011821) state that in the study audio and video recordings were taken informed consent. Which helped to later on even realise information shared which the researchers were not aware of. The duration of each focus group was 90 minutes, which the researchers matte the time it was the right time, for each group discussion. The fact that F. G were held made it less costly for this study than any other possible study because a double number of people participated in this study at a time which also made it quite quicker.Some points in this study were raised up by addition or revealing of another idea by some other participants comment. On the other hand, the researchers also saw that because at first the participants were suppose to represent secondary schools of Turkey as a nation then later converted to the cosmopolitan city Ankara but still th e researchers saw that the number of total participants is quite diminutive to represent such large population. On the findings of this study it was seen of importance that further study should be carried out on different groups so the findings can be generalised. CONCLUSION This study has been a great study which can be jury-rigged in a way. Such way is that the researchers must carry on with the focus groups and compare findings, if even after several discussions same findings are gathered then it would be a point where the findings can be generalised for the secondary schools in Ankara. REFERENCE LIST Apaydin, C. & Balci, A. 2011. Education. Organizational Corruption in Secondary Schools A Focus Group Study, 131(4)818-829. Daymon, C. & Holloway, I. 2002.Qualitative research methods in public relations andmarketing communications. capital of the United Kingdom Routledge. Gerber-Nel, C. , Nel, D. & Kotze, T. 2003. Marketing research. Claremont New African Books. Grudens-S chuck, N. , Allen, B. L. & Larson, K. 2004. Focus group fundamentals. Methodology Brief 9. Hague, P. , Hague, N. & Morgan, C. 2004. Marketing research in practice A guide to the basics. London Kogan Page. Malhotra, N. K. & Birks, D. F. 2006. Marketing research An applied approach. 2nd rev ed. Harlow Prentice Hall.Seymour, A. 2004. Focus groups. An Important Tool for Strategic Planning1-32. Tong, A. , Sainsbury, P. & Craig, J. 2007. International journal for quality in health care. Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) a 32-item Checklist for Interviews and Focus Groups, 19(6)349-357. University of Toronto. 2002. The health communication unit. Using Focus Groups, 021-59. Wiid, J. & Diggines, C. 2009. Marketing research. Cape Town Juta. ANNEXURE A ORGANIZATIONAL CORRUPTION IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS A FOCUS GROUP STUDY