A facilitated discussion among 6–10 people. The data is how they agree, disagree and build meaning together.
- +Fits Constructivist Epistemology, Interpretivist Epistemology
- –Tension with Phenomenological Epistemology
Key thinkers: Richard Krueger, David Morgan, Jenny Kitzinger
The longer story
Focus groups put 6-10 people in a room to discuss a topic together. The magic isn't just getting multiple views efficiently—it's watching how people negotiate meaning collectively. Someone says something, others agree or push back, consensus emerges or doesn't. You see what's taken for granted in a community, what's contested, how people influence each other. The facilitator's job is managing airtime (that one confident person who won't stop talking) while enabling genuine exchange. Group dynamics are data, not noise.