APPLICATION OF FOCUS GROUP TECHNIQUE: REPORT ON AN EXPERIENCE

Abstract

Current essay reports the experience of researchers following the Focus Group Technique as a first step in a quality-quantity research. Experience, planning and organization of the focus group are described, coupled to impact on collected data. Since stages in the technique´s development process are given, the relevant items for data collection are described, namely, awareness of participants, organization and composition of the milieu, the conduction of focus groups and data analysis. Consequently, the participants´ attention is exclusively directed towards group activities. The stance of the group´s moderator and their importance to guarantee a discussion on a specific theme are enhanced. The focus group technique is not a simple task since it requires adequate attitudes for in-depth meanings and subjectivity of participants with regard to aspects that involve the work process.